Colchester's High Street has always been a busy node in the heart of the city, joining shoppers with delicious bites to eat and the latest in retail.

The streets were not only taken by busses, taxis and cars but also by trams between 1904 and 1927.

The trams brought residents and visitors from one end of the city to the other, but due to the high repair and maintenance costs, buses were used as replacements starting in 1929.

Where big restaurant and retail chains have their stores nowadays, more independent shops and eateries treat customers to delicious meals without the rush of fast food and mass orders.

A much-missed supermarket, Marks and Spencer, enjoyed many years of busy retail and customers looking to get their groceries conveniently from the High Street.

Competitor Tesco has also had a steady presence in the city centre, with an older store located next to the Conservative Club, and now an Express branch near the taxi stands across Town Hall.

Busy markets have been part of Colchester's main street for a long time and are still enjoying high popularity and seasoned special markets.

Iconic landmarks such as Town Hall, The Grand Theatre and Williams and Griffin shaped the beating heart of the town and are adding memories of other times to today's scene.

The Grand Theatre has seen many changes over time since it was built in 1905, as it became a cinema in 192, a bingo club, a retail outlet and lastly a nightclub.

Williams and Griffin, nowadays known as the home of Colchester's Fenwick department store,  started out as a drapery store.

Over the years, and several moves of the store to different locations within the city centre, the business turned towards selling everything from kitchenware, electrical and nursery goods before selling the unit in 2008.