Grade I listed · Colchester

The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat)

The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat) is a Grade I listed building in Colchester, first listed on 24 February 1950. It is one of 41 Grade I entries among 1,554 listed buildings in Colchester; 1% of Colchester’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
FieldValue
NameThe Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat)
GradeGrade I — exceptional interest
List entry number1123674
Date first listed24 February 1950
Local planning authorityColchester
Location51.89064, 0.90309 (map)
Official recordHistoric England list entry 1123674

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Colchester will require for your works on The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat), 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 Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat)

NameGradeDistance
Archway 30 Yards East of the CastleII47 m
Gateway to Castle ParkII69 m
Roman Wall 65 Yards North North West of the CastleII81 m
Summerhouse Circa 30 Yards North of the CastleII83 m
3-7, Museum StreetII92 m
The Sun InnII93 m
The Castle InnII99 m
Colchester War Memorial (including lamp columns, walls, gates, piers, railings and posts)II*104 m
14 and 15, Maidenburgh StreetII107 m
93 and 94, High StreetII108 m

Frequently asked questions

Is The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat) listed?
Yes. The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat) is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building, list entry number 1123674, first listed on 24 February 1950. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.
Do I need consent for works to The Castle Keep (Including Excavated Remains of Forebuilding in Moat)?
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.