A watching brief was maintained during groundwork for redevelopment at 78 East Hill. During the first visit groundworks for the front (southern) half of the site were well advanced with foundation trenches concreted. Observations were made at a number of points on the site. At a point 4.4m from the street frontage the natural sand was cut vertically and the full depth of the area to the south filled with what appeared to be the fill of a cellar. Mid-way along the East Hill frontage two trenches revealed a cellar cut through clay. At the south-western corner of the site a further cellar was found. The observations suggested that most if not all the properties along this street frontage contained cellars which were infilled at different times. The most striking feature of the site was the presence of substantial clay deposits. It was not possible to establish whether this was natural or redeposited. "Although natural in appearance, clay is very rare at these levels on a town centre site and these deposits may yet prove significant in the search for the towns Roman bath house".<1>