Plans scuppered in first and total lockdown

Lovely cat paw print in a tile excavated at the Essex county Hospital site.


 As a member of Friends of Colchester Archaeological Trust I was invited to look at the Essex County Hospital excavation. The site is interesting in that substantial Roman bread ovens were discovered near a Roman Road junction. I thought in terms of visitors to the Roman city and Roman circus popping by for a snack.

It was an ideal site to arrange a visit for the YACs. Lockdown meant cancellation of these plans and everything else I had booked for the following three months, including a hoped for visit to Walton for instruction in fossil hunting and identification.

It wasn't until the beginning of August I walked through the, almost deserted, town centre to return the resources I had taken from the YAC cupboard in Roman Circus House for the visit to the Essex County Hospital site.

Early August (2020) walk through the town centre reveals one way systems in operation and social distancing measures
 
Taken on my visit, for nearly six months, to Roman Circus House in early August 2020

Part of the exhibition in Roman Circus House, which explained discoveries on the ECH site. 
Roman event in the gardens of Roman Circus House

Later that month, August 2020, there was a Roman event at Roman Circus House, which one of our young volunteer leaders attended in full Roman gear. Apart from recommending our young members to look at the exhibition in Roman Circus House, our only way to meet up in 2020 was via zoom, yet applications from potential new members were piling up and the waiting list lengthened.


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