Rough history of Colchester and how it might have looked though the ages. Just looking into idea one because I couldn't get my keyboard or my headphones to work. This might be useful, or not, depending on what idea we choose.
Camulodumon - Celtic settlement - trading settlement with impressive defences. Invaded by the Romans in 43AD. Settlement was about 12 square miles.
Camulodumum - Roman town - Claudius invaded with elephants!! (Poor Celtic people must have been scared). Built Temple of Claudius (44 - 53 AD ?) Destroyed by the Boudican invasion (60 to 61 AD) Colchester Castle was built on it's remains. Butts Road Roman Church was also built (320 - 340 AD) and St Helen's Chapel that is still standing (I think). Population of about 10 - 12000.
Saxon and Viking town - lots of wooden hut buildings, by 527 AD became a major settlement.
William the Conqueror invaded in 1066 - built Colchester Castle between 1069 and 1076. Once had four stories but due to lack of stone it now had two/three. Lots of churches were built including St Johns Abbey (1096) St Giles, st John's Green (1150) St Mary of the Walls (1206) and others.
In the Domesday book (1086) Colchester had 419 houses and a population between 2000 and 2500.
In 1635 the population was arround 8000.
1648 - Colchester was attacked during the Second English Civil War (I thought there was only one?!) Lot's of destruction, St Mary's Church and the Gate of St John's Abbey were partially destroyed. (The inhabitants were left eating candles and boots. Nice!)
http://www.localhistories.org/colchestertime.html
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