Colchester Castle is the largest Norman keep ever built in England. William the Conqueror ordered its construction in 1069, and it was completed in 1076, when Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain. It was built over the ruined foundations of the Temple of Claudius, itself erected between A.D. 54 and 60.

The museum inside the castle includes important holdings, such as Neolithic pottery; the Coin of Cunobelin, which dates from A.D. 10 to 40; and other artifacts recovered from the graves of Roman warriors buried in the first century.

Colchester Castle in Essex, one of the most haunted castles in the UK. Built upon the foundations of the ancient Roman Temple of Claudius this Castle has layers of history. Colchester Castle has links with the Witchfinder General and the tragic women who perished here through execution, labelled as witches. Many hauntings have occurred here and staff have witnessed so many strange occurrences. With such a bloody history and so many layers of history this location will not fail to impress even the most hardened ghost hunter.

Haunted Happenings ghost hunts at Colchester Castle have been hugely successful. The paranormal activity that we have uncovered here has made us desperate to return.

In 1215, the castle was besieged and eventually captured by King John, following the altercation with rebellious nobles that eventually led to the Magna Carta. Since it ceased to be a Royal Castle in 1668 it has been used as a county prison. Originally the prison was maintained by private enterprise which meant that prisoners were kept in the most barbaric of conditions and often left to rot or to die. Matthew Hopkins features in the history of Colchester Castle in 1645 the self-styled Witchfinder General, interrogated and imprisoned suspected witches. These alleged witches would never stand a chance as every test to prove their innocence was doomed to failure, meaning that so many of them were executed.

The Castle was under Royalist control under the leadership of George Lisle and Charles Lucas. However, in 1648 the Castle was attacked by Parliamentary troops, only surrendering after a 12 week siege. The two Royalist leaders were then executed. This execution took place to the rear of the Castle and rumour has it that the grass will not grow on the spot where they fell. A small obelisk now marks the point. I myself would like to visit here one day! Sounds spooky.