The Colchester Town Watch
In 1253, King Henry 111 commanded that `watches' be kept for the preservation of peace in cities and borough towns.

Colchester having held it`s charter for 64 years by this time, the town Bailiff was forced to raise a body of `good men and true' to patrol the streets during the hours of darkness and take into custody any malefactor to appear before a magistrate at the earliest opportunity

The Colchester Town Watch is a revival of this ancient body, not to arrest malefactors - as the Police Service now does this - but to provide the town with a ceremonial bodyguard for civic and social occasions.

We base ourselves on the Elizabethan period around 1595 and our equipment comprises the Colchester borough arms colours of a jacket in red and knee
breeches in green, woollen hose, leather shoes or boots, front and rear plate armour in steel and brass, steel comb morion helmets. Swords, rapiers, daggers, pouches for ale money, tankards, etc, are all optional.

Depending upon the Circumstances, we carry twelve foot pikes or the shorter partisan.

Our musical accompaniment comes from the watch drummer, and are looking for other musicians, example penny whistle, recorder etc.