Colchester’s Victorian bandstand in Castle Park will be refurbished ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.
The much-loved Victorian bandstand in Castle Park was originally built between 1894 and 1896, having been manufactured by Walter Macfarlane and Co. The Grade 2 listed structure was designed to hold a full military band and is still used by local bands today. The cast iron railings were removed during WW2 for the war effort, but were reinstated in 2003 using the original designs from Macfarlane and Co.
Marking the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne, the bandstand refurbishment works will include repairs and refurbishment of the roof and the bandstand will be repainted.
The Deputy Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Tim Young, said: “The work is scheduled to start in mid-April and be completed ahead of the Jubilee weekend. The Platinum Jubilee is a very fitting time for this work to take place and delivers a lasting improvement for the town in years to come.”
The bandstand will be one of the focus points of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Castle Park this year, where several local bands will perform over the Jubilee weekend.
Alongside the annual programme of bandstand concerts throughout the summer months, there will be a special performance on 21 May 2022 to mark 100 years of the Rotary Club in Colchester. The full programme will be available in the coming weeks.
Castle Park’s summer Jubilee bedding plants will start to go in from mid-May, alongside a Jubilee themed badge border, next to Hollytrees Lawn, in late May.
A varied programme of Platinum Jubilee events has been planned across the borough, which will culminate in a national bank holiday weekend in June. These include flags in High Street, a Gun Salute in Castle Park, community picnic, lighting of Castle Park Beacon, virtual museum displays and street parties.
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There is a national programme of events over the bank holiday weekend, more information on these can be found at platinumjubilee.gov.uk
Pictured above: Two ladies and a child sitting on a bench in Castle Park. The Bandstand can be seen in the background. From 1895. This is part of Colchester Museums collection.
Page last reviewed: 14 April 2022