We urgently need in excess of £200,000 to buy the former Sergeants’ Mess and secure the site of the starting gates of the only known Roman circus in Britain. We have only until the end of February 2010 to purchase the building as part of an overall plan to turn the circus into a major feature of Britain’s first Roman town.
The aim of the appeal is to create a free public facility with informative displays, a cafe, and a well laid-out and attractive garden featuring the remains of the eight starting gates of the circus. We want to create a quiet and pleasant space in which Colcestrians and visitors alike can relax and explore a unique aspect of Colchester’s Roman past.
If we not successful with this appeal, the Sergeants’ Mess will be sold for conversion into houses, the garden will become a private space, and the possibility of developing the circus as a cohesive and visitible monument will be lost. If you care about Colchester’s nationally-important heritage, please donate now.
We are looking to hold a charity event for the Roman Circus on Friday 26th February.
The general idea will be to turn our track into an oval to mimick the chariot racing, with 10 teams of 4 drivers in a 2 hour race.
I can be contacted on 07921 523 411
Regards
Nick Harris
Pingback: roman events
Re: Saturday cleanup. Can you give me some directions to the Sergeants’ Mess. I don’t actually know where it is.
Thanks.
You can see it on a map at
http://foursquare.com/venue/655362
It’s the long Victorian barracks building behind the railings in between Le Cateau Road and Circular Road North.
You can see some of our photos of the building at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/romancircus/sets/72157623195446172/
to give an idea of what to look for.
Look out for a group of people assembling to the left of the Sergeants’ Mess as you look at it. The way in is from the left, next to some hoardings and a loose chipping parking area (for the building site).