‘everything changes but change itself’

Yesterday (12th November), Trust archaeologist Don Shimmin was in Colchester Castle Park, monitoring some of the groundworks involved in the long-running programme of improvements to the park.

The Castle Park is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It is an area of such archaeological importance that any groundworks in the park should be monitored by an archaeologist or preceded by archaeological excavation. The Colchester Borough Council kindly commissioned the Trust to undertake a watching brief on all the works involved in the improvements.

The groundworks began in the spring. We conducted a small evaluation in the sensory garden and we have monitored the excavation of small holes for the installation of new information boards. A major element of the improvements was the construction of a new play area, including the installation of a large pirate ship, and the removal of the old play area, involving the removal of all the play facilities including the helter-skelter slide. The helter-skelter slide was a dominant feature of the old play area and, indeed, that part of the park. We think that it was installed over 30 years ago.

Apparently, the helter-skelter slide – or, as it is now known, the ‘spiral glide unit’ – was going to be removed and disposed of but, after objections by local people, the plans were changed and the slide was reprieved. Yesterday was the day, when the helter-skelter slide was taken down ready to be moved to its new site.

The Castle Park is the site of the Roman Temple of Claudius, Roman houses, streets and drains, and the Norman castle, associated structures and defensive earthworks. The above-ground remains include the Roman town wall and one of its gateways, a fragment of the Roman temple precinct wall, and the floors of a Roman house. In later centuries, the upper area of the park was used for tenters (for the cloth industry here). The castle keep was partially demolished for building materials. In the 18th century, part of the area became a garden with some features, including its own large ruin (what was left of the castle keep!). In 1892, the municipal park was opened to the public, with paths, park benches and the bandstand. In 1943, during WW2, four pipe bombs were dropped on the park and three exploded, creating three craters. So the Castle Park has a long and remarkable history, in which even the modern and modest helter-skelter slide has a part to play. The taking down of the slide isn’t the fall of the Roman empire, but it still demonstrates the processes of time and history, and that ‘everything changes but change itself’…

The images show the taking down of the helter-skelter slide, yesterday. [Further images to follow.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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*  ‘everything changes but change itself’ – this is a translation of the famous statement by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus.

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