In AD60 Prasutagus, the Iceni king, died without a son to succeed him. The Romans refused to recognise Boudica and his daughters as heirs and instead assaulted the women. This was to ignite a revolt which led to the destruction of the Roman town at Colchester, and also later those at St. Albans and London. Boudica and the Iceni formed an alliance with another tribe the Trinovantes and attacked the now civilian town of Colchester.

The colonial residents took refuge in the last remaining large substantial building, unfortunately for them the despised Temple of Claudius. Here they met their doom and were violently tortured and slaughtered and the temple burnt to the ground.

Boudica and her army moved on to destroy St. Albans and London before she became over-confident and was defeated. The Romans returned to Colchester and this time built a defensive wall around the town of which about two-thirds can still be seen today. The Roman rule of Colchester was to last for over 400 more years.

Roman Chariot Track unearthed in Colchester
During 2004 building developments on Abbey Field, Colchester Barracks unearthed the remains of a huge Roman Chariot Racing Arena. The arena is estimated to have been built at sometime after 100AD when Roman rule had been returned to Colchester following the Boudican Revolt. It may have seated up to 10,000 people and at up to 5 metres high, 400 metres long and 69 metres wide is the largest known Roman building ever to have been unearthed in Britain and the first Roman Circus to be discovered. If you want to know more visit the Colchester Archaeological Trust website.