A soil investigation was carried out to the west of the River Colne at East Bay ahead of the installation of a sewer pipeline. Five 200mm boreholes were drilled to depths of between 5.0 and 7.5 metres using shell and augur techniques of boring. The soil profile can be summarised as made ground over silty clay (alluvium) over gravels and sands (river terrace?), overlying London Clay. The boundary between the alluvium and the sand and gravel varied between 2.0 and 3.1 metres in depth. Standing levels of water between 1.7 and 3.10 metres were encountered. Standing levels may be related to tidal conditions adjacent to the river. The made ground contained gravel, brick and coal fragments in all boreholes. In addition Borehole 4 contained wood, leather, shell, china, glass and concrete fragments within the made ground.<1>