MOST landmarks you visit, doing so just once in your lifetime will suffice.

You get the selfies, tag your photos on Facebook and cross it off your bucket list.

But not Colchester’s Roman Circus Centre - where chariots raced like in Ben-Hur and soldiers from all corners of Brittania descended for their entertainment, courtesy of the local “big wigs,” as centre manager Samantha Rowley called them.

“When I’ve done my tours, one of the things I say is to please come back another time and have a tour with somebody else. he basic facts and figures will stay the same but it’s the delivery,” the former guide explained.

Samantha urges visitors to use their imaginations as they walk along the remains of the 450-metre long site which was first discovered in 2004.

“A procession would’ve started at the Temple of Claudius, which is where the castle is built on top, and gone down Mersea Road and up Napier Road,” she said.

Gazette:

Samantha Rowley in Liverpool Street Station with Deva Victrix Legion XX in their Roman gear

“The charioteers would’ve gone down to the starting gates and then people would’ve fanned out to their seats, which is why I ask people on tours, where would you sit?

“Would you like the thrill of the start of the race or would you like to see where the ship wrecks happen or be near the finish line?”

Colchester’s Roman circus, the only discovered in the country, was built in the early 2nd century AD and was used for about 150 years, until towards the end of the 3rd century AD.

Given the magnitude of what is Britain’s largest and longest Roman building, it seems bizarre there would be any difficulty in getting people through the gates today.

But despite its rich history, it has struggled.

Bad signposting had impacted visitors’ ability to stumble upon this scheduled ancient monument off Circular Road North but now it is on the new Colchester map, the team is doing all it can to boost public engagement.

During the winter, the visitor centre is a community space, already home to weekly winter lectures from Colchester Archaeological Group and others, but able to host concerts and performances too for about 100 people.

Gazette:

A dressed-up soldier infront of Colchester Castle as part of a Roman parade in 2016

Peter Froste’s iconic six metre-wide mosaic has been downsized and turned into a ticket stub for a historic momento.

Two smaller elements of the design Samantha has also had made into fridge magnets as a creative way to raise money.

Historian Samantha said: “Although there’s not a lot to see above ground, the history of the circus really is as important to Roman Colchester as the castle and Roman wall, but also to the development of Colchester.

“We had a couple from Blackpool visit last week.

“They told me they’d been to castle and seen the Fenwick treasure and at that moment the archaeologist Adam Whiteman, who found the treasure, walked through the circus centre.

“They were blown away.

“Not only had they seen the Fenwick treasure but they’d met the man who dug it up.

“So they went home with a really good impression of Colchester.”

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Philip Wise and Tim Young hold up pieces of Fenwick treasure

First impressions certainly count so tomorrow marks the grand reopening of the Roman Circus Centre and café and an energetic start to the spring/summer season.

ECL’s Crafty Drama will be singing a selection of their favourite upbeat songs at 11am and 1pm for an hour each time.

The circus’ knowledgeable guides have woken from hibernation to lead tours from 11am to 4pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, and on bank holidays.

And that is not to mention the café volunteers who are worth their weight in tea and cakes.

“For Jane’s Walk, I’m opening and closing the centre early so the group can start and finish some walks there, so we’re really flexible if particular groups want to see the circus.

“Because it’s a scheduled ancient monument, we are just custodians of it, but that gives us a responsibility.

“It’s been laying under the earth for maybe 2,000 years and we found it, so we’ve got to accommodate people who want to see it.”

Gazette:

Work beginning on Colchester's Roman Circus in 2014

And there are several opportunities to do over the next few months. In conjunction with the Council for British Archaeology’s two-week festival this July, the circus is holding a special archaeology day with an exclusive display from Firstsite’s Young Art Kommunity.

This leads into Heritage Open Days in September and hopefully more events in between.

What Samantha really needs though, besides fascinated crowds, is a donated play area for the cafe’s littlest diners.

If you could help, email sr@catuk.org or call 01206 501785.

Explore more of the Roman Circus by visiting the new Facebook page or click here