Little information appears to be available about the history of Colchester Abbey, but that which is, seems to indicate it had a colourful history. Presented here are some snippets of information.

1120 Eudes Steward to William I and Henry II buried in Colchester Abbey

May 1157 Henry II holds a trial in Colchester Abbey concerning the right of the pope to over rule him on matters of religion.

1523 John Rainsford was accused by Richard Vynes, an ex-servant of the abbot of Colchester, of committing a murder within the sanctuary of Colchester abbey. Rainsford's answer to the evidence against him was that he had been conversing with the victim when two men entered and killed him after a struggle in which Rainsford's efforts to protect him failed because he was unarmed at the time; not realizing the seriousness of the victims wounds, Rainsford had tried to succour him and was thus found with the body.

John Ballard, an archer, captured the archdeacon of Paris during the latter part of the fourteenth century. he deserted from the army before entering Calais and smuggled his prisoner into Colchester Abbey and finally sold him in London for £50.

1539 Thomas Marshall, Abbot of Colchester Abbey, refused to give up his house, and was hanged outside its gates.

• Grid reference may be TL994242 or TL994266