The Oysters of Colchester

Believe it or not Colchester, or Camulodunum as it was known then, was the capital of Roman Britain. It may not be much of a gastronomic haven these days, but it is still the capital of oyster cultivation.

The Romans adored oysters, revering them as a delicacy, and traded those that grew in the creeks surrounding Camulodunum. Not only did they transport them around the country, they also took them across the Channel, keeping them alive in roped sacks towed behind their ships. Oyster shells found in excavations provide evidence of the Romans love of our native oysters.