WE RE heading back to wartime Colchester for today s Gazette nostalgia. The pictures on this spread date back to 1940, early into the Second World War, and were taken by Harold Poulter. Mr Poulter was a curator for Colchester and Essex Museums and lived at Hollytrees Museum, close to Colchester Castle.
Dutch Quarter - this picture was taken in West Stockwell Street They depict images of the town centre, including North Hill, West Stockwell Street and Eld Lane and the historic Marquis of Granby pub. Mr Poulter s high-definition pictures appear as part of a new online catalogue published by Colchester and Ipswich Museums.
Children can learn about Iron Age Britain thanks to a museum YOUNGSTERS can learn about what life was like in Iron Age Britain from their own homes. Colchester and Ipswich Museums launched Museum From Home during the first national lockdown and it has continued to be available across the most recent lockdown. With schools currently closed, Colchester Castle is missing its regular school visitors, so has teamed up once more with the Essex and Suffolk Children’s University to bring a slice of museum life to families at home. More structured national curriculum resources are now also available to schools and home learning providers to either use in the school environment or through home learning.
COLCHESTER residents are being invited to help shape a new plan for the only known chariot-racing track in Britain. Colchester’s Roman Circus is more than 2,000 years old and, once agreed, the new management plan will set out the roles and responsibilities of the council and key stakeholders involved in protecting it. Proposals extending to the Garrison Conservation Area to include the Army Base Repair Organisation site are also being considered, to help protect the surviving buildings associated with the setting of the circus. Though its remains are now entirely below ground, the scale of the Roman Circus is impressive, being about 450 metres in length, with an estimated seating capacity of 8,000.
Baking is a fun activity for kids of all ages.
- Credit: monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images/iStockphoto
With February half term just around the corner some family treats and distractions and are going to be needed to get over the last six weeks of home schooling.
The weather forecast for half term is predicting continued cold weather and with lockdown showing no sign of ending soon there will be little chance of any outdoor excursions – particularly as you still can’t drive to the beach or tourist attractions.
Some outdoor sites or forest areas are open for socially distanced walks but can only be accessed by locals. All indoor facilities are closed.