English Heritage - St Botolph's Priory — Attraction in Colchester

Colchester has so much of historical interest, but its ancient Priory is just about THE most interesting. The best thing about St. Botolph's Priory is that for a ruin, it remains so recognisably & impressively intact. Unlike the similarly sized site in Thetford, the remains of St. Botolph's are clearly a Priory rather than a razed site of historic decay. The intricate flint-rubble & red-brick walls are remarkably intact, displaying a level of craftsmanship INCREDIBLE for a building dating back to 1100. It required most of a century to complete the Norman design, achieved using recycled materials originally prepared by the Romans. Augustian monks were resident @ St. Botolph's for a few centuries, before it became abandoned during the 16th Century. Then the imposing structure fell victim to the raging English Civil War, which was settled with enormous suffering during the Siege of Colchester. Rumour persists that the site's haunted by a hooded monk, but the amount of anecdotes are fewer than you might expect for somewhere of such age & deep history. Unfortunately, the derelict nature of the site does attract those whose lives have reached the same state & for as long as I can recall, the ruins have been a haunt for local alcoholics & drug abusers. But I've never known any trouble here, in fact it's a strangely secluded attraction, considering how closeby runs the loop of branchline railway into the terminal once known as St. Botolph's Station, (nowadays renamed by Network Rail as the more specific but less enigmatic,...

Beautiful and serene. Re-purposed Roman red bricks among the 11th century medieval stone. A great place to picnic too. Parking next door. Yet another parking app to pay though, but there is a payment machine that still accepts cards. Parking lot and Priory are in the old heart of Colchester and convenient for the castle, old town shops, railway station and much more.

St. Botolph's Priory in Colchester, or "Colchester Priory," was a place of holy happenings and historical hijinks. Founded in the 11th century by those pious monks, it became a bustling hub of faith and fellowship. But alas, Henry VIII, that notorious relic repossessor, had his way during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the early 1500s. The Priory fell from grace, its stones now echoing tales of the past.

During the English Civil War, the Priory took center stage as a strategic stronghold. It was occupied by Royalist forces, those loyal to King Charles I. The Parliamentarians, led by Sir Thomas Fairfax, laid siege to the Priory in 1648. After a bit of back-and-forth, the Parliamentarians emerged victorious, and the Priory was left in ruins.

Today, it's a peaceful place for contemplation, where history whispers among the remnants of a...

St Botolph's Priory is a great place to visit for families. It's a historical site with a lot to offer, and it's located in a convenient spot.

The priory is a former monastery that was founded in the 12th century. It's now a museum, and it's open to the public. The priory is free to visit, and there are no guided tours.

There are a lot of things to see at St Botolph's Priory. The ruins of the priory church are impressive, and there are also some interesting exhibits on the history of the site. There's also a playground for kids, and there are plenty of places to sit and relax.

St Botolph's Priory is located in the heart of Colchester. It's close to a lot of other attractions, including the Colchester Castle, the Colchester Roman Museum, and the Colchester Zoo. There's also plenty of parking available.

Overall, St Botolph's Priory is a great place to visit for families. It's a historical site with a lot to offer, and it's located in a...