Colchester Town Hall and the city’s civic heritage
- The Town Serjeant: the ceremonial attendant to the Mayor who carries the Great Mace at civic events
- Colchester Town Watch: provides a ceremonial bodyguard for the Mayor at civic and social events
- The Town Crier: makes public proclamations at civic events and announcements across the city
- Friends of the Moot Hall Organ: supports work to bring the Edwardian organ in the Moot Hall back into use
- North Essex Heritage: provides information about historic buildings and memorials across North Essex
- Colchester Museums: find out about Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum and the Natural History Museum
Guided tours of the Town Hall
The building continues to be called the Town Hall, although Colchester was granted city status in 2022.
Free guided group tours of the Town Hall and its heritage can be arranged in advance.
Find out more and enquire about a guided tour
The Town Hall also opens during Heritage Open Days.
Rooms in the Town Hall are available to hire for weddings, receptions and corporate events.
The history of the city arms
The earliest known record of the city arms appears in a royal charter granted to the borough of Colchester by King Henry V on 7 July 1413.
The charter is preserved in the city archives. Its initial letter includes an image of St Helena holding the cross of Jesus Christ, which tradition says she found in Jerusalem.
On the other side of the cross is St Helena’s son, the Roman Emperor Constantine, who granted Christians freedom of worship in the Roman Empire. The belief that St Helena was born in Colchester dates back almost 1,000 years.
The arms of Colchester shown on the charter refer directly to the story of St Helena.
At the centre is the True Cross, represented as a green living tree. The design also includes three iron nails, representing those used at the crucifixion, and three crowns representing the Three Kings, whose remains St Helena is also said to have found.
Colchester’s town seal, which probably also dates from 1413, depicts St Helena with the cross.
The current city arms
The current city arms were granted by the College of Arms to the former Colchester Borough Council in 1976.
The former borough council agreed that the central shield of the arms would be used for general purposes.
The full city arms were granted to the council for its own use. Colchester City Council cannot give other organisations or individuals permission to use them.
Organisations wishing to use the central shield should email mayorsoffice@colchester.gov.uk.
Find out more about coats of arms and heraldry on the Heraldry Society website.
City regalia, portraits and stained-glass windows
City regalia
The Town Hall is home to several important examples of civic silverware.
Colchester’s mace was made in 1730 and is one of the largest in the country. It represents the council’s authority granted by the monarch and is used at civic events and council meetings.
Other items include a Victorian epergne, or table centrepiece, and a neff, or model ship. Both were donated to the town in 1913 and are displayed in the Mayor’s Parlour.
The oldest item of regalia is the bronze borough seal, which dates from around 1413. A replica is used as the Mayor of Colchester’s badge of office.
Portraits and fine art
The Town Hall contains portraits and paintings of notable people connected with Colchester.
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by the artist Richard Stone is displayed in the Moot Hall.
One of the most important paintings in the council’s collection is A Flemish Merrymaking by David Vinckeboons. It is on permanent display in the Grand Jury Room.
Stained-glass windows
The Town Hall contains stained-glass windows in the Council Chamber and Moot Hall.
They include depictions of the Roman Emperor Claudius, St Helena, Colchester’s patron saint, and the Weavers’ Memorial window.