Under siege

This is the Colchester Old Siege House built in the late 15th Century.

In 1648, under the reign of Charles I, the Royalists took the castle but were pursued by the Roundhead Parliamentarians.

As the Siege House stands on the East side of the river that surrounds the town and the castle, the Roundheads laid siege to the bridge and East Hill which leads directly to the castle. The Royalists counter attacked and won over, only to be attacked again by the Parliamentarians who this time overran the castle and executed the Royalist commanders, Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle in the grounds of the castle. There is a obelisk to show the spot and it claimed that no grass will grow there (they've tarred it over now just to make sure).

The town still remembers Lucas though - there's a school named after him.

Note the bullet holes in the side of the Siege House here - they are marked with red plastic circles (someone was obviously a very bad shot!).