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The Dutch Quarter, named after the Dutch speaking settlers in the 1500s who came from Belgium, Holland, and France, is located north of Colchester High Street and covers Maidenburgh Street, West Stockwell Street, East Stockwell Street, Stockwell Street, St Helen’s Lane, Northgate Street and Nunn’s Road.
The name was not coined until after the Second World War and was previously referred to as ‘The North’ in reference to North Bridge.[1]
It was home to the Dutch Weavers, a group of Flemish Protestants who set up their production of bay in the Quarter. The homes were built at the end of the 16th century and were painted red and green with white window frames in a typical Dutch style.[2] Houses built in Colchester during the textiles trade often were built with ‘weaver’s windows’ which were large and horizontal to allow light in without the looms blocking it.[3] More than 60 of the homes still exist.
History
editRoman roads
editThe Dutch Quarter was built on some pre-existing Roman roads including Maidenburgh Street running along the course of a Roman road, and St Helen’s Lane forming part of the original Roman street leading from the Temple of Claudius to the theatre.[4]
Flemish history
editBy the 14th century when the first Flemish settlers were invited to settle by Edward III to assist in the production of Colchester russets, the Dutch Quarter area consisted of several shops including an ironmonger in East Stockwell Street. The Colchester court rolls of the 14th century also outline wells providing water supply.[5]
The Flemish bay-maker settlers in Colchester began to build the houses by the end of the 16th century. The location was chosen as it was close to the Colne River which was used in the textiles industry. It was in the Dutch Quarter where the Flemish bay makers set up their workshops and houses.[5]
For more about the Flemish bay makers, see ‘Dutch Weavers’.
Jewish occupation
editThe Dutch Quarter saw Jewish settlement around the 1790s. There was a synagogue in a house off Stockwell Street which survived until 1795.[6]
Important buildings
editPeake's House
editGrade II listed building located in the centre of the Medieval market where fullers, dyers and tanners worked.[7]
East Hill House
editGrade I listed building built by wealthy merchant tailor George Wegg.[8]
Blue Coats School
editNow known as the Old School House. Bluecoats prepared children for apprentices which bay makers took on.[9]
Taylor House
editGrade II listed building. The residence of Ann and Jane Taylor, known for writing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. Marked with a plaque on 11 and 12 West Stockwell Street.[10]
Dutch Church
editIn 1563, the Dutch Refugee Church was built on the corner of Head Street and Church Street.[11]
St Helen Lane and Chapel
editIt is said that Helena, the daughter of King Coel of Colchester and mother of Roman emperor Constantine the Great, became the patron saint of Colchester. Her chapel, the Chapel of St. Helen, is the oldest building in the Dutch Quarter. Her statue of St Helena holding a piece of the True Cross now stands proudly on the top of the present Town Hall of Colchester, on the south edge of the Dutch Quarter. When the Normans came to Colchester, they restored the chapel in 1076 and built Colchester Castle with the material from the ruins of Roman buildings close to Maidenburgh Street.[4]
Bishop Blaise Inn
editNo. 35 West Stockwell Street was formerly the Bishop Blaize inn, where the town's wool combers met in the building named after their patron saint.[12]
Stockwell well
editStockwell street excavations have revealed large concentrations of sheep bones near the well on Stockwell Street dating to 16th and 17th centuries, suggesting a probable source of wool for the local cloth trade.[13]
Historic Street names
edit- Dutch Court
- Middle Mill
- Northgate Street, formally known as 'Dutch Lane'.
- Quakers Alley
- Quakers Court
- Sir Isaacs Walk
- St Helen's Lane
See also
editDutch Weavers
References
edit- ^ "HISTORY: Why is the Dutch Quarter called the Dutch Quarter?". Gazette. 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "HISTORY: Why is the Dutch Quarter called the Dutch Quarter?". Gazette. 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "Axiell Internet Server 6 | Details". cim-web.adlibhosting.com. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ a b Bird, Brian (1981). Guide to Colchester's Dutch Quarter. Essex Libraries. ISBN 9780903630139.
- ^ a b Laver, F.S.A., Henry. "The Last Days of Bay-making in Colchester" (PDF). Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society. 10 (1).
- ^ Brown, Malcolm (1992). "The Jews of Essex before 1900". Jewish Historical Studies. 33: 125–135. ISSN 0962-9696.
- ^ "Peake's House, Essex". www.landmarktrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ CAT (2014-11-10). "a watching brief at fine East Hill House". Colchester Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "Education | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ King, Mel (2022-07-02). "The Essex attic where Twinkle Twinkle Little star was written". Essex Live. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "MCC442 - Dutch Refugee Church (demolished), Church Street, Colchester - Colchester Heritage Explorer". colchesterheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ CAT (2016-10-12). "the archaeology and history of sheep". Colchester Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "Colchester: Archaeologists find a Roman road, bones and a well". East Anglian Daily Times. 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2024-03-13.