Colchester.
A World Heritage Site?
In June 2010, a group of people, known as the destination Colchester Heritage Group, sat down and looked at the possibility of applying for Colchester to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside the likes of the Taj Mahal, the Sydney Opera House, Stonehenge - and many hundreds more well known (and some not so well known) sites. The group thought long and hard about it and consulted the experts and sought the approval of local government bodies. Greeted with much scepticism but solid support and encouragement, the group pressed ahead with their idea and, on the basis of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained', the required documentation was duly completed and submitted to the DCMS for the first leg of the vetting procedure.
So, what makes us think that we have any sort of chance?
This is the basis of our application:
Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town; a site of beginnings in cultural, architectural and town-planning history. It is the site of Britain's first urban civilization; the place where it crossed the threshold from prehistory into history. It is where the British tribes joined the Roman Empire, where their first revolt against Roman rule took place and where Romano-British culture first flourished.
The settlement of Camulodunum dates to at least the 1st century BC. By the early 1st century AD it was the most significant tribal centre in Britain and was the objective of the Roman invasion of AD43, where the Emperor Claudius personally received the submission of British rulers. Prior to AD43, British Iron Age culture had few centres of major settlement, none recognisable as urban. Pre-eminent among these, objective of Roman invasion and site of British submission to the Emperor, was Camulodunum. A Legionary Fortress was established and replaced in AD49 by a colonia, the highest rank of city, capital of the new province of Britannia and including major public buildings as a model of Mediterranean-centred Roman culture. In AD60/61 the city was the prime target of the Boudican Revolt. It was sacked but re-established to flourish as a major centre of British Roman culture, evidenced by theatres, temples, Britain's only known Roman Circus, opulent houses and one of the first Christian churches in Britain (c.330).
Colchester's renaissance occurred in the 11th-12th centuries, including the construction of the largest Norman castle keep, on the massive foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius and St Botolph's Priory, the first Augustinian house in England.
Colchester has Outstanding Universal Value by virtue of its status as the first location of the urban revolution in Britain, its unique Iron Age and Roman significance and remains, and its association with the two defining events of the period, both of which underline the differences between Iron Age and Roman cultures in Western Europe. Iron Age and British Roman cultures are significant in the global history of civilization, but are under-represented on the current WHS List. Colchester is the most significant and representative site for both these cultures, their comparison and contrast, and its inscription will fill this gap.
At Colchester, for the first time, Britain had crossed the threshold from a rural to an urban culture, from prehistory to history, a transition of ultimately global significance.
The Gosbecks site is a dedicated archaeological site, preserved by covenant for future generations. The original Iron Age trackways, enclosures and field system are indicated by extensive crop marks. These are defended by contemporary, surviving earthworks. The Gosbecks site Roman temple and theatre are also visible as crop marks. The site retains its original rural character, unaffected by later development and undamaged by deep ploughing.
The Colonia site includes the most extensive original Roman city walls, largest surviving and best preserved Roman gate, massive foundations of the Temple of Claudius (visible beneath the Norman castle keep), and bases of walls of the Roman church and theatre, all in good condition. Uncovered archaeological remains are rich, deep and well preserved.
There are no other sites that demonstrate the relationship between British Iron Age and Roman cultures as significantly or visibly as Colchester. It is unique as the first site of the urban revolution in Britain, the objective of Claudius the only time he left Italy as Emperor and the prime target of the Boudican Revolt.
Colchester's inscription will increase opportunities for conservation and interpretation of the site's unique heritage, as well as for re-assessment of how the community and heritage can work towards mutual benefit.The main beneficiary will be the local community in terms of education, local pride, well-being, opportunities to welcome new visitors, and taking an active role in WHS management.
The nomination will be funded through partnership working and pooled resources between stakeholders, private sector contributions and community donation. Community support for heritage in Colchester is very strong; demonstrated by a public campaign to preserve the Roman Circus site, "Save Our Circus", managed by the applicant, that recently succeeded in raising over £200,000 from the local community and local businesses within 2 months.
Management, protection and interpretation of the key elements of the site is currently funded by local authorities and national bodies. WHS inscription will provide leverage to attract greater funding and additional funding sources, building on the success of previous and current initiatives, such as the "Save Our Circus" campaign. Local community involvement will also continue through active involvement in sustainable fundraising and subscription schemes.
