A trial-trenched archaeological evaluation was conducted by NAU Archaeology ahead of new housing and associated infrastructure at Ilex Close, Colchester. The area subject to development encompassed 2ha, although only relatively small parts of this were to be built on; seven individual plots were to be developed amongst the existing housing lying between Ilex Close on the north side and Baronswood Way on the south side, covering a combined area of c.0.5ha. The plots were confined largely to areas of grass and hardstanding/parking beside current roads and houses. Four trenches (A, B, C and D) were excavated at different locations across the development area, which is situated amongst existing housing. Trench locations were proposed with the aim of minimising disruption to below-ground services and residents’ access. Two of the trenches (A and B) were designed to target cropmarks thought to represent Late Iron Age- to Roman-period field systems. A possible ditch on the same alignment as the targeted cropmark was revealed in Trench A, although only a small part of this presumably larger feature was excavated. This ditch was undated. The presence of this feature usefully confirms that sub-surface features are the reason for changes in crop growth that have been recorded here as cropmarks. Two features were found and excavated in Trench D, although their sterile fills may indicate they were of natural origin. Trenches B and C contained no archaeological features. No finds were recovered from any of the trenches.