We urgently need in excess of £200,000 to buy the former Sergeants' Mess and secure the site of the starting gates of the only known Roman circus in Britain. We have only until the end of February 2010 to purchase the building as part of an overall plan to turn the circus into a major feature of Britain's first Roman town.

The aim of the appeal is 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. We want to create a quiet and pleasant space in which Colcestrians and visitors alike can relax and explore a unique aspect of Colchester's Roman past.

If we not successful with this appeal, the Sergeants' Mess will be sold for conversion into houses, the garden will become a private space, and the possibility of developing the circus as a cohesive and visitible monument will be lost. If you care about Colchester's nationally-important heritage, please donate now.