Fundraising launch of ‘Vision for Colchester’s Roman Chariot Circus’

Howard Lake — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:58:51 +0000

This Thursday evening (14th January) Colchester Archaeological Trust will be presenting its vision for the Roman Circus.

Actor Tony Gardner, star of BBC TV’s award-winning comedy Lead Balloon, will host the event in the Mayor’s Parlour at Colchester’s Town Hall. Guests will hear of the plans for the Roman Circus and donations will be encouraged.

Entry is by invitation only as space is limited. Please apply for an invitation to Isobel Merry, Head of Fundraising, on 0789 1234 274. Guests are invited to arrive from 7pm for 7.30pm.

Thanks to the generosity of the people of Colchester and further afield, £80,000 has been donated since the appeal was launched at the beginning of December. We have until 31 January 2010 to find the rest. It is hoped that donations made on the night will help fill the £120,000 gap.

Speakers at this special event will include guests from the world of archaeology, history and heritage including:

• Philip Crummy. Director of the Colchester Archaeological Trust
This is a special opportunity to discover the plans and ideas for Britain’s only known Roman Circus from the man who discovered the Roman circus.

• Sven Wombwell, ITV’s This Morning Garden designer will reveal his ideas for the design for the garden where the eight Roman Circus starting gates are located.

• Philip Wise, Heritage Manager at Colchester Museums

The Colchester Archaeological Trust has been given until the end of January 2010 by developers to buy the land containing the 8 starting gates of Britain’s only known Roman chariot racing circus. The gates lie within the front garden of the former garrison sergeants’ mess at the northern end of Abbey Field. This distinguished Victorian Grade 2 listed building is otherwise destined to become private housing, closing off public access to the most important section of this unique archaeological site.

The Save the Roman Circus Appeal is an initiative of destination Colchester, a community interest company, together with Colchester Archaeology Trust. The appeal is to raise funds to buy the Sergeants’ Mess building and the garden so it can be a celebration of our town’s unique Roman heritage, somewhere for people who live, work and visit Colchester to enjoy and learn about our historic past. The building will provide a new and highly appropriate home for the Colchester Archaeological Trust.

Working with local councils and county councils, the aim is to transform the majority of the circus site into an archaeological park. Where possible, earth mounds will be built to show its great size and provide a view not seen in Britain for at least 1,600 years.

The purpose of the fundraising evening is to inform, educate, entertain and encourage donations to save Colchester’s Roman Circus.

Upon the successful outcome of the Appeal we intend to honour donors’ names, in perpetuity, on plaques inside the refurbished Sergeants’ Mess.

Like many, we believe that ‘Roman Colchester’ including the Roman circus, the Roman walls, the Temple of Claudius, the Roman theatre and other sites, should become a national visitor attraction, giving the town a strong identity, bringing business into the centre and helping to revitalise Britain’s oldest recorded town.

Save Colchester's Roman Circus » vision

Fundraising launch of ‘Vision for Colchester’s Roman Chariot Circus’