Museums & Heritage Talks & Workshops
TV & Radio
Hello! My name is Ben Paites, and I am a Collections + Learning Curator at Colchester Museums. I have worked extensively within the museum sector for over a decade. My passion is for sharing the stories of unrepresented people within history. My skills and expertise have allowed me to work with schools, community groups, academics and even national media outlets such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Sky.
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Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys - Colchester (May 2025)
Michael Portillo makes his way to Colchester where he visits Colchester Castle, a Norman keep that was built on top of the foundations of the Temple of Claudius. He speaks with Curator & Historian Ben Paites about the rebellion in AD 60 by warrior queen Boudica against the Romans.
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BBC 2 - Series 16: Episode 20
Past TV Appearances
In 2021, The River Hunters team make their way to the River Colne in search of historical artefacts. Ben Paites speaks with presenter Rick Edwards about the Seige of Colchester in 1648 which lasted for 11 weeks as a blockade.
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Sharing some objects from Colchester Museums' collection with Bettany Hughes for 8 Days That Made Rome, 2017.
Talking about the Witch Trials at Colchester Castle on ITV News Anglia, 18 October 2023.
Rylan Clark-Neal heads to Colchester Castle in October 2020 where he had a whirl at being a tour guide under the expert guidance of Ben Paites. Sky Bingo doesn't think he will quit with his dayjob anytime soon! Click the Link to Watch
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Giving a tour of Colchester Castle to Fern McCann on This Morning, 11 March 2020.
Sharing some weird & wonderful history connected to Colchester with Fiona Bruce on Antiques Road Show.
Televised on BBC One - Jan 2025
Experience & Insight
With a wealth of knowledge in different fields, I can offer consultation, curation and presentation services. My key areas of expertise are Roman History, British History, Archaeology, The Witch Trials, LGBTQ+ History & Mythology, & Folklore. ​I have curated many exhibitions over 10 years of working in the museum sector. From large-scale exhibitions, such as "Wicked Spirits?" to single displays, including the Bodleian Bowl at Colchester Castle. This has been in partnership with single or multiple lending institutions, as well as working with the collections of Colchester Museums. ​I have worked with various media outlets, including TV and podcast productions, and been interviewed on radio for various local, national and international stations. This has included working with BBC Radio Jersey, discussing Sheela-Na-Giggs, and specifically talking about the example on display at Colchester Museums. ​I have given talks to a range of audiences, from academic specialists to non-specialists. This has been in person and online, including conferences and public talks run by museums and heritage organisations.
Exhibition Highlights
"Legacy" was a spotlight loan at Colchester Castle. Focusing on the Bodleian Bowl from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. I worked with the local Jewish community to gather photos, objects and stories to share alongside the display.
​27 September 2024 to 27 January 2025
"Wicked Spirits? Witchcraft and Magic at Colchester Castle" was an exhibition in partnership with the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, Cornwall. Looking at the various acts of witchcraft in English history, the exhibition highlighted real stories of people accused of witchcraft across Essex from the 1500s to the 1800s. ​
16 July 2022 to 8 January 2023