A small-scale excavation was undertaken in April 2000 prior to the rebuilding of a shop unit at 22-24 High Street (now Super Drug, formerly John Menzies, Boots, Essex County Standard & Benham & Co). Later 1st century pitting was followed by several phases of masonry building spanning the 2nd and 3rd centuries. These are Buildings 194 & 195 in CAT building series. A series of pits were cut in the 3rd to 4th centuries. Although no Saxon structures were seen, residual Ipswich / Thetford ware indicates some activity here in perhaps the 9th century. The masonry walls were robbed in the medieval period, and in the 15th or 16th century a structure with clay floors and a rubble wall was erected (CAT Building 196). This was cut by a 17th century brick structure of unknown use. There were many finds of Roman and later pottery, brick and bone, but the most interesting find was an empty lead canister of the type which might have contained a coin hoard. A single 13th century coin was also found. <1><2> A watching brief was carried out on the remaining part of the site (ECC2472).