Grade I listed · Colchester

The Roman Town Wall

The Roman Town Wall is a Grade I listed building in Colchester, first listed on 2 December 1971. It is one of 41 Grade I entries among 1,554 listed buildings in Colchester; 22% of Colchester’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	The Roman Town Wall
Grade	Grade I — exceptional interest
List entry number	1123664
Date first listed	2 December 1971
Local planning authority	Colchester
Location	51.89241, 0.89676 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1123664

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Colchester will require for your works on The Roman Town Wall, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest — only about 2.5% of listed buildings in England. Any application for listed building consent is notified to Historic England, and alterations are scrutinised closely.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near The Roman Town Wall

Name	Grade	Distance
1, Middleborough	II	18 m
26-29, North Hill	II	24 m
The Marquis of Granby Inn	II*	36 m
3, Northgate Street	II	45 m
Drinking Fountain	II	47 m
22 and 23, North Hill	II	61 m
21, North Hill	II	65 m
9 and 11, Northgate Street	II	69 m
37, North Hill	II	73 m
13 and 15, Northgate Street	II	74 m

Frequently asked questions

Is The Roman Town Wall listed?

Yes. The Roman Town Wall is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building, list entry number 1123664, first listed on 2 December 1971. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to The Roman Town Wall?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Colchester, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.