The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat)
THE CASTLE KEEP (INCLUDING EXCAVATED REMAINS OF FOREBUILDING IN MOAT)
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1123674
- Date first listed:
- 24-Feb-1950
- List Entry Name:
- The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat)
- Statutory Address:
- THE CASTLE KEEP (INCLUDING EXCAVATED REMAINS OF FOREBUILDING IN MOAT)
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-01-13
- Reference:
- IOE01/13659/14
- Rights:
- © Mr Bryan Shaw. Source: Historic England Archive
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1123674
- Date first listed:
- 24-Feb-1950
- List Entry Name:
- The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat)
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE CASTLE KEEP (INCLUDING EXCAVATED REMAINS OF FOREBUILDING IN MOAT)
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE CASTLE KEEP (INCLUDING EXCAVATED REMAINS OF FOREBUILDING IN MOAT)
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Essex
- District:
- Colchester (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TL9986425325
Details
1. CASTLE PARK
995 -----------
The Castle Keep
(including excavated remains
of forebuilding in moat)
TL 9925 SE 5/3 24.2.50.
I
2.
Built late C11 on the site of the great Roman Claudian Temple (the
foundations still exist under the castle), almost entirely of Roman tiles
and septaria. It was probably built in circa 1080 for William the Conqueror
as an important defensive work. It was much larger and more massive than
any other Norman Castle built in England - possibly partly because it had
to enclose the great Roman foundations still existing on the site.
It had 3 storeys or more and is now probably less than half its original
height, though still a most imposing structure and a most important
example of mediaeval military architecture. Demolition was begun in
1693, the height being reduced. Considerable restoration took place
in the mid C18 for Charles Grey. The dome over the great staircase was
added by James Deane in 1760. AM.
Listing NGR: TL9986425325
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 116865
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 15 Essex,
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 16:11:45.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.