On Saturday 24th September, the Trust will be holding our final ‘summer Saturday’ of activities here at the Roman circus centre… and finishing on a high note with a day of all-round archaeological entertainment! We will be talking treasure, presenting a family music workshop, and providing guided tours of the circus site and centre.
* 11.30 am – Trust archaeologist Adam Wightman will present an illustrated talk: ‘The Fenwick gold and silver treasure’, in the tea room
Adam will discuss the Trust’s excavation within the Williams & Griffin (now Fenwick) store in the High Street at Colchester in 2014, and the remarkable ‘Fenwick treasure’ which we uncovered there. Adam supervised the excavation and actually found the treasure!
This remarkable hoard of jewellery and coins, made of gold and silver, had been hidden for safekeeping under the floor in a house in the Roman town during the Boudican revolt of AD 61, when the native Britons rebelled against the Roman occupation of southern Britain. The town was burned to the ground and its inhabitants were massacred. Although the town was rebuilt, the hoard was never retrieved and lay undisturbed for centuries, until we uncovered it in 2014…
About 45 minutes. To be sure of a seat, please book in advance: just ‘phone us on (01206) 501785.
* 12.30 and 1.30 pm – guided tour of the Roman circus site and centre
About 45 minutes. Please meet at the Roman circus model inside the centre.
* 2.00 -3.30 pm – ‘Digging deep for sound’ with COMA East FireWire, in the ‘chariot room’
CoMA (East) FireWire will lead a family music workshop or ‘Sound Circus’: ‘… The band uses music to explore the present and the past. They bring to life things long buried under our feet through instruments and voices … We will make history new for you! … What will you find? …’.
CoMA say that they are ‘A lively and active ensemble based in Colchester … We’ve performed in a variety of venues and novel locations, from the Colchester Arts Centre to Brighton station. We’ve created music for the Colchester Institute, Anglesey Abbey, and for Colchester’s new gallery firstsite … CoMA (Contemporary Music for All) was founded in 1993 to enable musicians of all abilities to participate actively in contemporary music …’.
All ages welcome. CoMA FireWire will share simple instruments with visitors.
Visit their web-site at www.coma.org/get-involved/ensembles/east/ .
ADMISSION FREE!
*** The circus tea room will be open on the day from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm.
The main room will be in use until 12.30 pm, and we invite customers to sit at tables in the ‘chariot room’, in the marquee, or on the terrace until then: we will also provide waitress service until 12.30 pm.
The Roman circus site, centre and tea room are wheelchair-/pushchair-accessible.
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