News RSS Feed


Save the Roman Circus

You can help to save the circus by donating as much as you can afford - call Isobel Merry on 07891 234274, or visit www.romancircus.org

Click here to download your support poster!

 

BBC's One Show backs Colchester Roman Circus appeal

5:00pm Wednesday 10th February 2010

By Tom Parkes »

THE bid to save Colchester’s Roman circus is to be featured on BBC TV’s the One Show.

Presenter Joe Crowley was in town, recording footage for the flagship BBC1 programme, fronted by Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley.

He filmed an interview with Colchester Archaeological Trust director Philip Crummy on the site of the circus’s starting gates, before visiting several other historic locations in the town centre.

Volunteer re-enactors in Roman garb were invited along to take part in the recording and faced a chilly wait as they stood about for more than an hour in togas and sandals.

Finally, their chance came, however, in a sequence in which Mr Crowley was pulled along in a chariot.

The item is likely to be to be on the One Show, either tonight or tomorrow at 7pm. * Meanwhile, architecture expert and BBC presenter Dan Cruickshank is backing Colchester’s Roman circus appeal, because he’s “a huge fan” of the town.

The Around the World in Eighty Treasures presenter lived in Layer Breton about 20 years ago and he fell in love with Colchester then. He said he spent hours admiring its Roman, medieval and 18th-century architecture.

Mr Cruickshank, 60, said the discovery of the circus – Britain’s only-known Roman chariot-racing arena – was just one more reason for the town to start making more of its historical heritage.

The historian, who will be speaking in the One Show report on the Save the Circus campaign, said: “Colchester has an intensely interesting history and the discovery of the circus just adds to the fascination. It is the biggest Roman building so far discovered in Britain – really good news for the community and another good reason for people to come and visit.”

Mr Cruickshank, who made the BBC series, Britain’s Best Buildings, will give two talks next week, in support of the appeal. He said he was glad to do his bit to help fund a heritage centre for the site.

He added: “As there is nothing visible above ground, the challenge is how to present the circus in a way the public can appreciate.”

“What I’d like to know is who nicked the stones it was built with. I expect it was probably the Normans.”

Mr Cruickshank will be speaking at a £50-a-head lunch at the Sun Inn, Dedham, on Tuesday, from 1pm. Half the ticket money will go to the appeal.

That evening, he will give a lecture at Colchester Town Hall, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 each and all proceeds will be donated to the cause.

Comments(17)

Jess says...
6:12pm Wed 10 Feb 10

sweet.... call me lame but i love history.... i wonder if i can watch this programme online.... does anyone know if the BBC puts it's shows on the internet?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

U's fan says...
6:33pm Wed 10 Feb 10

You can normally watch the show a day later here

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/theoneshow/

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Jess says...
7:06pm Wed 10 Feb 10

sweet! thanks darlin :)

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

seco2 says...
9:06pm Wed 10 Feb 10

Perhaps I'm cynical, but does anyone else have serious doubts over this whole project? OK - good luck to them - let's assume they can raise enough funds to buy the Mess and the land.. Who then pays to turn it into some sort of visitor attraction? Who's going to come look at a derelict field? The town doesn't have people capable of running major projects - look at VAF, the condition of the Roman Walls etc. Where's the money coming from? Colchester is never going to be another York. I really can't help feeling I'd rather have a modern town, cleaned and smartened up, reinvigorated, rather than all this for stones that have been buried for centuries... What practical benefit will all this bring, when the town's in the state it is? Look at the posts on the takeaways issue -- I really do think people want much more basic, everyday things put right first... Am I wrong?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

crosby says...
9:38pm Wed 10 Feb 10

This is the only Roman Circus of it's type outside Italy - I think that's rather important and something we have a duty to preserve.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Feisty CBC says...
9:55pm Wed 10 Feb 10

Stuff the VAF I'm going to the Roman Circus :)

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Voter99 says...
9:55pm Wed 10 Feb 10

There is no money in the pot.

So who is going to pay for it?

I get the impression that a lot of people around the town don't realise or are trying to ignore the deep manure that the country is in - we are bankrupt - with millions of people existing on social welfare.

Roman circuses and the like are way down or should be way down the
priority list.

The money should be invested in real jobs that pay people a living wage (not some **** minimum wage)

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Boris says...
2:15am Thu 11 Feb 10

Seco2 and Voter99, you have got it all wrong. It doesn't matter if it takes years to find the extra money to turn the circus into a visitor attraction. Lottery money may come once the Olympic Games have been paid for. Government money may come once we have better economic times. The point right now is to save the site from being lost for ever. Most of the investment pledged so far is from individuals who would rather spend their money on that than on swilling lager and then vomiting it up on the town's streets.
The Roman Circus, the Castle, the Roman walls, and Jumbo are among the very few things that make our town special at all. They are all worth spending money on. We are in fact a rich town in a rich country and we can well afford to preserve what little we have that distinguishes us.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Andy Hamilton says...
10:32am Thu 11 Feb 10

Wonderful promotion of the Roman Circus on the "One show". Totally agree with Boris. It is shameful Colchester Council support for the Roman circus amounts to 0.1% of the public money wasted on the VAF. Nothing from Essex County Council despite the Gazette campaign.
.
Town councillors should reflect public priorities. Apart from improving public services, they have a duty to preserve our irreplacable historic structures.
.
If only people would come to Council meetings and tell councillors the truth. Most happily grumble to each other but deckine either to attend public meetings, contact councillors or write to the local papers. You have only yourselves to blame if councillors blunder on misusing public money wnen you refuse to stand up publicly for what you believe.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Sdapeze says...
12:52pm Thu 11 Feb 10

I take seco2's points but Colchester is unique with what it has. If only we promoted ourselves better we could have everything. He/she misses the point though about the cost of the appeal. Of course money will be needed to make the circus a visitor attraction but the main part of this is simple landscaping, cutting the grass, marking the site with shallow banks, putting different coloured tarmac where the roads cross the site, a few signs, etc. The Sergeant's Mess will be a privately owned building and will run itself - in the main. The museum services will be involved with the displays but essentially the building will derive its own income (so I understand). There is no reason why this would be a drain on the community. Quite the opposite in fact. By bringing people to Colchester, the town will benefit in other ways. The biggest hurdle has to be one of national recognition of this amazing heritage site, as important as Stonehenge, Hadrians Wall, Sutton Hoo, etc. Take Sutton Hoo as an example. Not so long ago, it was just a mound of earth and visitors had to use their imagination as to what used to be there. Now, after a visionary council swung into action, a multi-million lottery grant has brought them an award winning museum and interpretation centre that enjoys national acclaim and millions of visitors. If they can do it, why can't we? Especially when you add to it the other unique heritage sites in Colchester that make Colchester (potentially) such a superb place for visitors. I ask you all to get behind this project.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

COLIN MUDIE says...
2:33pm Thu 11 Feb 10

With such positive comments as above I have liitle doubt that the circus will come to town and then the clowns can cry their crocodile tears all they want.
I have already put my money where my mouth is and if the campaign is still struggling I will dig even deeper to support this unique venture.
Is it really true that the Essex County Council have not supported the Roman CIrcus?? Do those mandarins in County Hall despise Colchester so much that they cannot lay their political views aside in order to secure this site. The sooner we cut that poisonous umbilical cord the sooner we can put Colchester FIRST!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Jess says...
3:05pm Thu 11 Feb 10

yes i agree with sdapeze. there's alot to be said about the money that tourism brings in. and if this is the only roman circus outside of rome, people of colchester should consider themselves lucky to have such rich history right in their backyard. it takes money to make money and i think if you invest in these big landmark finds, it will payoff in the long run. then the council will have the extra money to fix up the high street area.

from an outsider's perspective, colchester is a pretty magical place- with all the history and everything. and because of Boudica's uprising against the romans, the history of Camulodunum, the castle built on the roman foundation, right up to twinkle twinkle little star- this sets colchester apart from other areas in england. sometimes it's hard to see the grandeur of where you live cause you're there all the time. colchester's historical wonders, in my opinion, are pretty special and can definitely generate revenue with tourism.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Sdapeze says...
4:06pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Now that Hanningfield has gone, perhaps we can get Kezzer Bentley to put in a good word at County Hall. But wouldn't that upset the LibDems? It's a minefield!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

romantic says...
4:08pm Fri 12 Feb 10

Lots of spot-on analysis above. Colchester is really missing a trick when it comes to tourism. Previous generations of misguided councillors, aided by little brown enevlopes, have managed to rip out a lot of the old centre, but there is still plenty here that tourists / visitors like. At the moment, lots of people speed through on the train from Harwich to London. The visitors who do come here from Holland, Germany, Scandinavia etc especially, are very positive about the place.

Voter99, life is about more than mere survival. People are not starving in this town. We have squandered large amounts on the VAF, but it doesn't mean that every "cultural" or "historic" project is a waste of money. Your approach would mean we lose the connection with history: we should be teaching kids (and adults) the history of this town. We could be a York or a Chester, if there was focus. We have planners but no big plan, and without that, it is easier to go for piece-meal approaches.

The VAF should be stopped where it is, the money which still needs to be spent just to get the shell operational would pay for the Roman Cicrus site, a proper maintenance job on the wall and lots of marketing of the town overseas. Visitors spend money! That creates jobs. If it is properly used, it is an investment, not a waste. But we need a council and councillors with a bit of vision.

When are the council meetings? How do we get hold of an agenda before-hand? Or is that top-secret?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

crosby says...
5:43pm Fri 12 Feb 10

All the dates of meetings and agendas are on the council's website. Bear in mind, though, that because of contracts signed by the previous administration with other funders it would cost the council £14m to get out of the VAF. Mr Hamilton knows this so why does he keep going on about it? Like it or not the council is in it for the long haul.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Andy Hamilton says...
7:40pm Fri 12 Feb 10

It is no good "crosby" going on about the £14million Colchester Council would have to repay the funders. Yes, the hideous carbuncle will be sort of completed but it will be a maintenance nightmare because of its defective design and construction.
.
The VAF will be unaffordable to run as a free entry art gallery as quoted running costs are £1million/year. I see no reason why Colchester Council should not renegotiate with the Arts Council a more appropriate and financially viable use for the VAF. In the present recession it would be better to mothball this white elephant and put development funds into an improved retail environment.

Not one of the 60 councillors demands action. They can all read the reports the public are not allowed to see. Senior councillors of all the parties have and still do whatever the Arts Council demands.The concealment of the contractor reports and inspections clearly show the lack of integrity of these arrogant councillors. I look forward to senior councillors and staff named and shamed in a government enquiry.
.
No public body is backing Colchester Council's futile attempt to sue contractors in the courts. That alone shows the lack of regard for this incompetent organisation. Add the huge legal costs onto the cost for the VAF. It never ends.
.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

colchesterguy says...
3:44pm Tue 16 Feb 10

ok, have read all your comments
how do we fix it/ how do we get a goverment enquiry?
how do we get county funding for the circus?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »
TV exposure – presenter Joe Crowley on location with legionaries Zane and Gus Green TV exposure – presenter Joe Crowley on location with legionaries Zane and Gus Green

In this section

ESSENTIAL LINKS


Circus footer

Featured Advertisers


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses