no messing in the Sergeants’ Mess garden

On Saturday 23rd February, twenty-four volunteers including three CAT archaeologists worked in the garden of the former Sergeants’ Mess, next door to Trust premises Roman Circus House. Apart from some preliminary first aid work carried out by volunteers earlier last year, the garden has been neglected since the army vacated the building about seven years ago and was in much need of some tender loving care.

Volunteer Peter Herring, who organised the event, thanked everybody who rose to the challenge. Peter said, “Many thanks to the volunteers who responded to the ‘gardening blitz’ on Saturday. It was a very cold and uninviting day for outdoor work but we achieved everything we set out to do in the garden and can now get on with the rest of the scheme to allow visitors to see the remains of the circus starting gates area. Many thanks to the Essex County Standard for their continued support of our Roman Circus project. Without help from volunteers and the local media, we would never had got his far and we are encouraged and delighted by the endless support we get from our local community.”

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