All change for Colchester Castle

Colchester’s award-winning Castle Museum closed temporarily on 7 January 2013, to make way for major renovations.

 

When it reopens in spring 2014, it will tell the story of Colchester – from its foundation more than 2,000 years ago until the Siege of Colchester in 1648 – in a fresh and exciting new way.

 

The big reveal

 

You’ll be able to explore brand new displays, an interactive hub with discovery stations, a full-size burial reconstruction, audio character stories, video projections, replica objects and much, much more.

 

Redevelopment will give a better sense of the scale and importance of our Castle – the biggest Norman keep in Europe – and our designers have worked hard to reveal even more of its historic interior.

 

But it’s not just the exhibitions we’re working on. We’re also making improvements to the museum shop and the toilets; the Castle roof will be insulated, and under-floor heating will boost energy efficiency. A state-of-the-art glass lift will make every part of the building fully accessible to all.

 

Out and about

 

We hope our new-look museum will make visitors want to find out more about Colchester’s ancient past. That’s why we’ll be setting up linked information points at other key heritage sites around Colchester, including the town walls, the Roman Circus, and Balkerne Gate.

 

Behind the scenes at the museum

 

The Castle closed its doors on 7 January 2013, and during February and March, will be emptied of its contents. But if you’re lucky enough to be visiting between 9 March and 7 April 2013, we’re offering some rare chances to peek inside the empty Castle building.

 

On Monday 9 March there’s a craft fair offering demonstrations, workshops and a vast array of goods for sale. Families will enjoy our Mediaeval day on 1 April, while for grown-ups only there’s a series of Tea and Talk events on 10, 17 and 24 March, and a beer festival from 19–21 March. On 14, 24 and 29 March, the Castle will be open to all comers for a series of guided tours, when you can marvel at its architectural splendour during this unique empty period.

 

For more information and admission prices,  to our what’s on page.

 

More to explore

 

Though the Castle is closed, there’s still plenty of Colchester heritage and culture to discover. Take a walk through domestic life and childhood over the past 300 years at Hollytrees, or explore the region’s flora and fauna at the Natural History Museum. For something completely different, step into firstsite visual art gallery, which hosts a changing programme of contemporary exhibitions by national and international artists in its spectacular golden-clad building.

 

Come back soon!

Do bear with us while we complete these much-needed works, which will ensure Colchester Castle remains a top-class visitor attraction for future generations. We look forward to welcoming you back across the bridge to enjoy our transformed Museum in 2014!