The Siege of Colchester
Colchester was perhaps most famously destroyed by Boudicca as she burnt the city to the ground, rebelling against its Roman population. However to a present day visitor it is the destruction caused by the 1648 Siege of Colchester which has more notably left its mark on the city.
The English Civil War ran from 1642 - 1651 and it was during a relative lull in 1648 that Royalist supporters arrived in Colchester and occupied it. The Parliamentarian army pursued them and after losing an initial battle, laid siege to the town with the Royalists trapped inside.
The siege lasted 73 days before the Royalist surrendered on 28th August. Their commanders were executed with the site now marked by an obelisk in Castle Park.