St Botolph’s Quarter, Colchester
St Botolph’s Quarter, Colchester
We provided heritage advice for a bold initiative to unveil Colchester’s treasured heritage to both residents and visitors.
Dating back to the twelfth century, St Botolph’s Priory, the first Augustinian house in England, holds national historic, architectural and archaeological importance. Although largely ruined following the Dissolution and the 1648 Civil War Siege, its Romanesque structure, use of salvaged Roman materials, and surviving west front remain significant. The priory site also includes the former Britannia Works—an industrial complex active from the 1830s to 1982—which contributed to Colchester’s engineering heritage but has limited surviving fabric today. Today, the Priory remains largely inaccessible to many visitors, missing the chance to be a focal point for Colchester’s tourism.
We assessed the heritage significance of sites within Colchester’s St Botolph’s Quarter, which includes the scheduled ruins of the Priory and Roman town wall; the Grade I listed priory church ruins; the Grade II listed Church of St Botolph (1835–37); and Colchester Town Station’s historic station house. We then outlined opportunities for enhancing public engagement through improved routes; materials interpretation; marking lost priory structures; and refreshed signage. We worked with Haworth Tompkins and LDA Design to advocate a sensitive design approach to reinforce historical character; support community use; and better reveal the site’s significance.
Aided by a £7 million government grant, the proposals will breathe new life into the St Botolph’s Quarter area. The plans involve transforming Britannia car park into a public space that can be used for vibrant events, markets, and gatherings. A pathway from the train station will lead directly to a heritage trail, guiding visitors through St Botolph’s Priory towards Firstsite and Colchester Castle. This thoroughfare will not only unveil the heart of the city centre but also create an improved first impression for those arriving by train into Colchester. Furthermore, a portion of the development will be dedicated to providing affordable housing units.
Client: Colchester City Council
Collaborators: Haworth Tompkins and LDA Design