The Berryfield Mosaic, Colchester, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Berryfield Mosaic is a Roman floor mosaic from Colchester, discovered nearby in 1923 and dated to around 200 CE. It once decorated the dining room of a wealthy home in Camulodunum, as Roman Colchester was known, and shows how status was displayed underfoot in Roman Britain.

The story behind it

The mosaic came to light in 1923, not far from where it is shown today. It dates from around 200 CE, when Colchester was a well-established Roman town. It would have lain in the dining room of a prosperous household, the room where a host entertained guests and wanted to impress them.

For wealthy Romans a mosaic floor was a statement of money and taste, a bit like a fine car or designer clothes today. Most were decorative, and a larger or more elaborate floor said more about its owner. That is the main reason this one matters: it gives a glimpse of private life and ambition in the town, not just its public buildings.

What to look for

• Look closely at the surface and notice that the picture is built from many tiny cubes of stone, called tesserae, set side by side.
• Follow the pattern and borders across the floor, and think about how a dining room would have been arranged around it.
• Pay attention to the colours and the places where the surface is worn or patched, which show how much has survived for around 1,800 years.
• Take in the setting in Lewis Gardens on the High Street, and think about how far a wealthy Roman home once stood from today's town centre.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 10 to 15 minutes for the mosaic itself, longer if you read any information on site and take photographs.
• Daylight is best for seeing the colours and the fine detail of the tesserae.
• Combine it with the other Roman and medieval sights in the centre of Colchester, which are all within an easy walk.
• Check current access arrangements before you go, as how the mosaic is displayed can change.

See it on a quest

You can reach the mosaic on foot as one stop of Historic Colchester: The Roman Visitor Walking Tour & Escape Game. The route takes you through the Roman side of the town, and the app tells you about each place as you arrive. At each stop you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look harder than you would on a casual stroll. There is no guide and no group to join, you start whenever you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.