When is a church not a church?

The answer, at least in Colchester is,

when it's a Natural History Museum.

Not as big as the original in London you understand and concentrating mainly on local fauna and flora, it probably does a roaring trade with local primary schools. It's certainly popular with local families, especially as it is just opposite the gates of Castle Park.

The castle is an 11th century Norman Keep which is built on top of the vaults of a Roman Temple. The park and the town have many substantial remnants of Roman Wall still standing, the best known is probably the bit behind the theatre next to the pub which is aptly named 'The Hole in the Wall'.

Colchester claims to be the oldest town in Britain, and may well be - Boudica chased the Romans from the town in AD61, burning it to the ground. The town's council is often accused of wreaking similar havoc in the late 70's when it demolished a large number of medieval houses and shops in the centre of town to make way for new concrete shops.

It's been an army town since Roman times, but is now home to the 16 Air Assault Brigade and also has the only 'glasshouse' in the country (military corrective facility).

I think another blip is needed to cover the literary side of the town.