As we walked into Colchester Castle we could immediately sense the historical significance of the building. We had the chance to explore the museum and all the interesting artefacts from the Roman and Celtic period. We studied the intricately designed mosaics, the helmets of soldiers and the daily necessities from people's lives. We walked around the floors of the castle and had the chance to experience what it would have been like to live life as a Roman. We examined their coffins and in doing so we discovered more about their beliefs and rituals concerning death and the afterlife. From looking at various artefacts we can gain knowledge about tragic events such as wars and fires which occurred in Roman Britain.
After a delicious lunch in the castle's grounds, we had the privilege to enter the castle's underground vaults. These were arched rooms made of stone which have been preserved well. We were given a fascinating tour, in which we learnt about the Temple of Claudius, which was situated here before the Norman castle. To move from room to room we had to crawl through very narrow archways. We learnt how the Celts had lived simple lives in roundhouses which were built using water, mud and cowpats. However, after the Romans had occupied the Celts' land, there were changes in architecture as well as lifestyles.
We had a fantastic and thought-provoking trip.
Article by: Georgia Mosheim & Jade Charles (8S)
Image Gallery: Click any of the thumbnails below to see the full version.
