Colchester Castle Park, Colchester, England

Site is open to the public. Opening may be limited, please check Visitor Information for any restrictions.

Brief description of site

Colchester Castle Park is a public park opened in 1892 on the site of a Roman temple. The park, which occupies about 9 hectares, is set around Colchester Castle and includes parkland and lawns with flower beds, a children's play area, putting green, cricket ground and boating lake.

Brief history of site

The first phase of the building of a castle on the site began in the 1070s, and the bailey was completed in about 1100. Great changes were made to the landscape around the Castle by Charles Gray, who lived in an adjacent house called Hollytrees. He made a pleasure ground, creating a walk along the bailey from a rotunda to a summerhouse and adding a parterre and canal garden below the north side of the bailey. Proposals for a public park on the site were submitted in 1870, but this was not approved until 1891. The park was opened in 1892 although the final layout was not complete until 1896.

Location information:

OS Landranger Map Sheet Number:	168	Grid Ref:	TL999253
Latitude:	51.8904	Longitude:	0.9035633

Key information:

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