Reasons why Colchester has been awarded city status

In a landmark announcement released today, Colchester will be given the status as part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations.

It joins seven other locations, including Milton Keynes and Wrexham, in Wales, in receiving the royal honour.

Stanley was named a city as the Falkland Islands becomes the first ever Overseas Territory to win a competition for the status.

• Live updates as Colchester gets city status to mark jubilee

A total of 17 Essex MPs had joined together to support Colchester’s bid to be granted city status – at the fifth attempt.

Colchester Council submitted a bid last year for the borough to be named a city as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Why will Colchester get given city status?

Colchester’s history as Britain’s first recorded settlement and its first capital was one of the reasons it has been recognised.

Nearly 2,000 years ago Colchester became the first captial of Roman Britain, but it has been classed as a town for centuries.

Back in 2019 Colchester Council decided to change the town’s strapline to reflect this. The town has also long been known as the oldest recorded town in Britain.

Colchester has lots of Roman connections, but there is more to the town than that. Think Vikings, the Norman invasion, and the Siege of Colchester to name a few.

• Read more >> Nine reasons why Colchester deserves to be given city status

The town was also given the nod for its links to the military.

A garrison town for the past 165 years, Colchester has, for the past 21 years, been home to 16 Air Assault Brigade, the UK’s rapid response force.

The 16 Air Assault Brigade arriving in Kabul as part of a 600-strong UK-force sent to assist with Operation Pitting. Picture: Leading Hand Ben Shread/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

It recently saw 750 soldiers from Colchester deployed to Kabul to help with the evacuation of UK citizens and others.

It also home to the only Military Corrective Training Centre in the country.

Another reason Colchester has been recognised for city status is its ‘cultural infrastructure’.

Colchester boasts an array of cultural sites such as the Mercury Theatre, Firstsite and Colchester Arts Centre.

Since the original submission for city status, Firstsite has been named the winner of Art Fund museum of the Year 2021 securing the award and £100,000 prize.

There are also a host if museums including Colchester Castle and Holytrees. And being home to Colchester Zoo is another big plus.