A site investigation was undertaken to determine the nature and stratification of soils in connection with the design of the western section of the proposed Inner Relief Road in Colchester, between Sheepen Road and North Station Road. Previous investigations were carried out at Balkerne Lane, Middleborough and Sheepen (see ECC2198). Thirteen borings were drilled to depths of between 4 ft. and 60 ft. The stratification revealed by the deposits comprised made ground and topsoil overlying alluvium which was underlain by River Terrace gravel. Made ground was found at seven borehole positions, namely 1 to 3 and 10 to 13, the amounts varying between 1 ft. and 5 ft. All the material in borehole 12 was thought to be made ground. In the six borings numbered 4 to 9, there was a 9 in. to 1 ft. 6 in. thick layer of topsoil. Below the made ground or topsoil in eight borehole, namely 3 to 9 and 13, alluvial clays, silt and peat were found. These soils had a total thickness varying between 3 ft. 6 in. and 11 ft. 6 in. Gravel was encountered in ten boreholes. In boreholes 3 to 9 and 13 the gravel occurred below the alluvium; boreholes 10 and 11 the gravel was directly below the fill. The level of the top of the gravel varied between 3 ft and 13 ft. below existing ground level. In boreholes 1 and 2 glacial clays were revealed directly beneath the fill and were proved to depth of 10 ft. and 20 ft, respectively. The London clay basement beds were reached below the gravel in seven boreholes namely 4 to 10 at depths varying between 12ft 6 in. and 21 ft. 6 in. below the surface. Clay of the Woolwich and Reading Beds were encountered in borehole 5 between 46 ft. 6 in. and 60 ft. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted.<1>