St. Botolph's Priory

St. Botolph's Priory is a Norman monastic ruin in Colchester featuring substantial round columns and round arches constructed from flint and reused Roman bricks. The remaining sections clearly display these structural elements, with the masonry work showing the building's original form across different parts of the site.

Founded in 1100, the priory was the first Augustinian monastery built in Britain and marked a turning point in English monastic tradition. The structure sustained cannon damage during the English Civil War in 1648, which left visible marks on its stonework.

The priory reflects how Norman builders combined local flint and recycled Roman materials into a new religious structure, creating a visible blend of practical resourcefulness and medieval craftsmanship. The way it was built shows how communities made use of what was nearby and available to them.

The site is open throughout the year with free entry and parking available on Priory Street near Colchester Town station. Since the ruins are open to the air, visitors can walk through at any time of day and in any season without worrying about doors or closing times.

The west front contains empty niches designed to hold statues that were never placed there, revealing plans that builders intended but never completed. These unfilled recesses offer a glimpse into what the facade might have looked like if the decoration had been finished as originally conceived.