Announcement: I have a new book out!
My new book is finally available to buy. After years of work, I’m excited to share it with the world! But this isn’t the end. I will be promoting the book across the country over the next year, so stay tuned for more info!
Museums & Heritage Talks & Workshops Television & Radio
Hello! My name is Ben Paites, and I am a Senior 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.
My Media Appearances & Features
Witches Of Essex - Sky History (Episode 1) October 2025
I took Professor Alice Roberts & Rylan Clark to Colchester Castle’s jail, which was the base of operations for the Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, due to its infamous notoriety. In this episode, I highlight some of the ways people protected themselves from witchcraft by hypocritically resorting to magic themselves…
Sky History - NOW TV
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.
BBC 2 - Series 16: Episode 20
‘‘ I am passionate about sharing stories from the past with as many people as possible, whether that is through TV, Radio, Podcasts or within lectures and talks. I champion stories of underrepresented people and those who have been persecuted through history.’’ - Ben Paites
If you would like to work with me, please reach out on my contact page.
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Sky Bingo
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 his day job anytime soon!
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History Channel - River Hunters
In 2021, the River Hunters team made their way to the River Colne in search of historical artefacts. Ben Paites speaks with presenter Rick Edwards about the Siege of Colchester in 1648, which lasted for 11 weeks as a blockade.
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Witches of Essex - Episode 3
In Episode 3, I rejoin Professor Alice Roberts & Rylan Clark in Colchester Castle, where we visit the jail cells below, where multiple women were held and interrogated by Matthew Hopkins for witchcraft. I discuss what conditions would’ve been like and why this location was particularly popular with the Witchfinder General.
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Antiques Roadshow - BBC One
Sharing some weird & wonderful history connected to Colchester with Fiona Bruce on Antiques Road Show.
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8 Days That Made Rome with Bettany Hughes
Sharing some objects from Colchester Museums' collection with Bettany Hughes for 8 Days That Made Rome, 2017.
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ITV News Anglia
Talking about the Witch Trials at Colchester Castle on ITV News Anglia, 18 October 2023.
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ITV - This Morning
Giving a tour of Colchester Castle to Fern McCann on This Morning, 11 March 2020.
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Where are the Mythical Creatures? - Bethnal Archives Podcast
In this episode, the host of Bethnal Archives, sit down with Ben Paites, Senior Curator of Colchester Museums, to discuss all things Mythical Creatures.
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BBC News - Expert Feature
‘‘The discovery of the graves of three skeletons underneath a car park has sparked a conversation about who they were and in what period they might have been buried.’’
Ben Paites, 34, senior collections and learning curator at Colchester Museums, said the bodies were found on what was once an old Roman road.
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The Real Reasons The Witch Trials Happened - Bethnal Archives
In this Halloween Special episode, the host of Bethnal Archives sit down with Ben Paites, Senior Curator of Colchester Museums to discuss the real reasons behind why the witch trials happened.
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BBC News - Colchester Castle's tribute to those accused of witchcraft
"A lot of these people were living on the fringes of society. They were disabled, they were elderly and they were just persecuted because they were different." - Ben Paites
Exhibition Highlights
"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
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
Expert 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.
