A Worthwhile Cause: Recent Historical Discoveries

This week I am going to call it Rome week, and I mean this in a very general way.  Any posts that go up this week will relate to Rome and the 18th century; I hope you will enjoy them!  The inspiration for Rome Week here, lay in a little town called Colchester which you may or may not know!

In brief, the only known Roman circus in the UK has recently been discovered in the town of Colchester.  The town was originally named Camulodunum by the Romans, and they have it as the oldest recorded town in England.  Queen Boudicca (Bodicea)  had a rebellion there, destroying the (at the time) Roman capital in Britain!

So what is a Roman circus? A Roman circus was a large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Roman Empire such as chariot racing.

The plan is to turn the circus "into a major feature of Britain's first Roman town." Love it!


The Colchester Archaeological Trust is in need of donations for the purchase of a building over the site to secure it.* The area is currently for sale and private buyers would develop the land.  The above image shows where the circus lays, and details of the starting gates.

The Trust intends to create "a free public facility with informative displays, a cafe, and a well laid-out and attractive garden featuring the remains of the eight starting gates of the circus."


This is an issue very near and dear to Heather and I.  If you would like to contribute a small donation towards the effort you can here! All donations to support the Roman circus go straight to The Colchester Archaeological Trust with no fees taken.  A dollar/pound would do, as every little bit helps.  I hope to visit Britian's Roman circus one day!



If anyone is interested and would like to learn more click here! 
*current status: £200,000 needed. £9,000 to go before 28 Februrary 2010.  (2/22/10)

5 comments:

  1. WOW! How incredibly fabulous! I'm going to email my friends about this - we are all (amateur) history fiends and this sounds SO amazing :)

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  2. I am so glad to hear it!! <3 history! I can't imagine stumbling upon such a great find in my town!

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  3. OMG!! What a find! And so amazing that it hasn't been covered with a WalMart/car park/sports bar. (Not that I'm biased.)

    I look forward to following the progress of this remarkable and fascinating discovery. Thank you, Lauren.

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  4. I will always back Baldrick's cunning plans! lol This is one of them.

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  5. @Polonaise it IS quite the find!! I believe the threat is to build a housing development over it, so they are working extra hard to secure the land! I hope they can make it to their goal! Last I heard the deadline is Feb 28! I am following the progress and will post updates. :o)

    @rileyp HA I know I giggle at the thought of Baldrick and any of his plans! And it is awesome he is a supporter!!

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