A ROMAN garden water feature salvaged during an archaeological excavation has been destroyed while supposedly in the safe keeping Colchester Council.

The water feature was discovered in 2000 in Head Street, Colchester, behind where the Odeon cinema was later built.

It was carefully removed from the site and stored at a council depot in Jarmin Road. 

But Sir Bob Russell, Colchester’s High Steward, said he has only just learned the water feature was allowed to disintegrate.

He added: “Regrettably, it was inadequately protected and gradually disintegrated – although it would appear that this was kept secret from the public, and only over time did some historians find out.

“It is outrageous such a unique part of our Roman heritage has been lost, particularly after the efforts made to save it.

“The garden water feature should have been put somewhere safe, and a covered location found where it could have been put on display as a rare example – certainly the only example in Colchester – of how Roman civilisation clearly involved people having a love of gardens almost 2,000 years ago.”

A Colchester Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, because of its fragile state, the water feature suffered significant damage while it was being lifted – notably a major crack – which presented a significant conservation challenge when it arrived at the former museum stores at Jarmin Road.

“As there was insufficient space inside the building, the water feature had to be stored outside in the car park area.”

He said efforts were made to try to preserve it but it proved impossible to protect the artefact from the weather.

When the museum service moved from the site in 2006, the feature was in a very poor state so was disposed of.

“With the benefit of hindsight, the bath should have been preserved on site, in situ, where it perhaps could have eventually been put on public display.” – as has happened more recently with the Claudius Gateway.”