ARTWORK highlighting a housing estate’s historic links has been unveiled in Colchester.

Praecedo, which is close to Abbey Field, has had five panels cast on the pavement in Wolfe Avenue, spelling out a Roman motto.

Within each panel is further text in different languages from nationalities which have had connections with the site and neighbourhood.

Each word chosen represents different food species introduced to Colchester from around the world.

The work, called Introduced Species, is by public artist Zoë Chamberlain.

She said: “This is a well-used route, so I’m hoping people will see the artwork in their daily lives – on the school run, for example – and will ask questions about why it’s there.

“When communities evolve slowly, there tend to be layers of history still evident in the local area, but when places are changing rapidly, public art can play a really important role in connecting people with the place they live and helping areas identify with their past.”

She added: “We find the response to public art is generally really positive when it is installed – people find it does create a sense of pride and a connection with the past.”

Praecedo has strong links to Roman heritage, being near to Britain’s only Roman circus, which was found just off Circular Road North and having military links with the garrison.

Zoë said: “In Roman times, the Praecedo site would have been used by families to grow food in small settlements outside the city walls and these communities were made up of different nationalities from all over the Roman Empire.

“More recently, the modern military presence has meant that Colchester has been a base for a changing population with connections all around the world – and with that migration and global experience comes the interchange of different foods and cultures which filter through to influence everyday life.”

Residents and schoolchildren were invited to get involved with the project by growing their own seeds of carrots, lettuce, cabbages and radishes, which were sent to them.

The project was funded by Taylor Wimpey, the firm behind the redevelopment of the former garrison.