When Mary Beard came to the Roman Circus Visitor Centre!

A world famous guest

It’s not every Saturday that a world-famous classicist drops by for a visit—but that’s exactly what happened this weekend when Dame Mary Beard came to the Roman Circus Visitor Centre here in Colchester!

Exploring the circus

Mary, known for her passion for Roman history and her gift for making the ancient world feel thrillingly alive, spent time exploring the site of Britain’s only known Roman chariot-racing arena. And yes—she was every bit as brilliant, warm, and curious in person as you’d hope.

She was particularly impressed by the painstakingly crafted models in our Visitor Centre, and later, during a Q&A event at Firstsite, she described her visit as “fabulous”—expressing her amazement at the sheer scale of the monument.

Though the visit was informal, it was no less exciting for it. We were delighted to show her around the exhibitions, the reconstructed remains of the starting gates, and the full line of the circus itself. Conversations ranged from Roman spectacle to local archaeology and how much our Roman past still has to teach us today.

Community and conversation

Mary also took time to meet members of CAT’s team, volunteers, representatives from the Young Archaeologists’ Club, and the Colchester Roman Society—whose Roman attire looked resplendent in the May sunshine! She shared stories (and the odd joke!) from her adventures in Roman archaeology and public history—and even signed a few books along the way.

A shared sense of purpose

For us, her visit was a welcome reminder of the importance of the work we do to preserve, promote, and share Colchester’s incredible heritage. It’s not just about the past—it’s about bringing people together to explore it in the present.

CAT’s Director of Archaeology, Adam Wightman, said of Mary’s visit:

It was a real pleasure to welcome someone who has done so much to bring ancient history into the public eye. Mary really enjoyed her time at the Roman Circus Visitor Centre—she took delight in the detail of the models, the interpretations of the monument in CAT’s grounds, and the conversations with our team. That sense of curiosity and excitement is exactly what we hope every visitor experiences—and we’d love more people from the local community to come along, explore, and even get involved in what we do. We hope she’ll come back soon—and maybe next time, we’ll persuade her to give a talk at the centre!

Check out some photos from Mary’s visit on our social media pages

https://linktr.ee/colchesterarchaeologicaltrust

Come and visit!

Want to experience the Roman Circus Visitor Centre for yourself? We’re open Tuesday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm, and we’d love to show you around. Whether you’re a lifelong Roman history fan or simply curious about the archaeology beneath your feet here in Colchester—there’s something for everyone.

CAT would like to thank Pam Cox, Colchester’s Member of Parliament, for inviting Mary to visit Colchester and the circus site.