A single trial pit was excavated at the rear of No. 2 Catchpool Road, Colchester ahead of a proposed development. The trial hole was dug so as to be representative of the foundations of the proposed development but positioned so as not to disturb the ground where they will be placed. The topsoil layer was found to be approximately 150mm deep overlying a sandy clay which became sandier with depth. There was no immediate change between topsoil and clay or the clay and sandy gravel at the bottom of the pit. A 100mm clay pipe was found at a depth of 1.7m.<1>