Colchester
Properties and events in Colchester
Before heading out for your Heritage Open Days visit, please check entries for last-minute changes.
'Meet and Play the Moot Hall Organ' at Colchester Town Hall
A rare opportunity to hear and play the remarkable organ in Colchester Town Hall which provides music for the town's annual Oyster Feast and other civic events.
7 Queen Street Colchester - One of the city's most interesting buildings.
7 Queen Street Colchester dates from the 14th century. It has been occupied as a business and/or domestic premises for the the last 600 years.
Audley Chapel
16th-century burial chapel of the Audley family, with a fine hammer-beam roof and unique monuments and features. Knowledgeable guides will be on hand to answer questions.
Cannock Mill
There has been a mill on this site since the Middle Ages, although the present building was only constructed in 1845. Cannock Mill has three storeys with a hoist loft and is weatherboarded. It is now owned by Cannock Mill Cohousing.
Colchester Baptist Church
There have been Baptists active in Colchester for many centuries, with their community being one of the oldest in England. This church dates back to 1834 and is still in active use today.
Colchester Castle Museum
A much loved museum in the picturesque Castle Park, this is the annual opportunity to explore this fascinating building free of charge.
Colchester Cemetery
Colchester Cemetery is a beautiful and peaceful green space. This is a rare opportunity to explore its history with an expert guide.
Colchester High School
This is a rare opportunity to visit the main Victorian school building constructed around 1885, learn about the school’s Quaker influence and view a remarkable selection of photographs and school magazines.
Colchester Siege Walk
A guided tour exploring the Colchester places and people at the time of the English Civil War Siege in 1648.
Colchester Town Hall
Colchester possesses one of the finest and most imposing town halls in England which reveals in its architecture the history of Britain's newest city.
Cuckoo Farm Studios
Cuckoo Farm Studios was established over thirty years ago when a small group of artists moved in and began to turn this derelict farm into a suitable venue in which to work. Today it is the home of more than thirty artists.
Garrison Walk
A walking tour of the oldest buildings of Colchester's Victorian military garrison. Learn why the Cavalry and Royal Artillery Barracks were built, view the remarkable architecture and learn the stories of those soldiers who were based at Colchester.
Gosbecks Archaeological Park
A guided walk around this remarkable archaeological site which features prominently in the story of Iron Age and Roman Colchester, and is associated with the visit of the Emperor Claudius to Britain in AD 43.
Gray's Summer House
Gray's Summer House in Castle Park in Colchester was built by the town's MP Charles Gray in 1731. The building is in the form of a miniature Greek temple with an interior decorated with plaster medallions.
Grey Friars (now Greyfriars Luxury Hotel and Restaurant)
The present Grey Friars building dates back to 1755, but its site has a much older history which is revealed via a guided walk and displays of old photographs and documents in The Salon, one of the hotel's meeting rooms.
Harwich Museum
Harwich is a historic and distinctive town steeped in a wealth of history. Whether you drop in for half an hour or half a day, there is plenty to explore whatever your age and interests and many of you will be taking a walk down memory lane.
Headgate Theatre
Built originally as a Congregational Chapel in the mid-19th century, the building was refurbished in 2002 as a theatre. The backstage area and auditorium are open to visitors.
Hollytrees Museum
Hollytrees is the best 18th-century house in Colchester and has been a museum since 1929.
Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity is the oldest standing building in Colchester, predating the Norman castle by three-quarters of a century.
Jumbo Water Tower
This is a rare opportunity to climb the largest water tower in England with amazing views from the top over Colchester city centre and beyond.