An archaeological watching brief took place by Colchester Archaeological Trust on land to the rear (and north) of 53-55 Lexden Road, Colchester, during groundworks in advance of the construction of a detached dwelling with attached garage. No significant archaeological remains were observed during the watching brief. The natural subsoil (Layer or L3) was reached at a depth of between 0.6m and 0.8m below the modern ground level over most of the site, and consisted of brownish-yellow gravelly sand. A brownish, slightly clayey layer (L2), between 0.25m and 0.5m thick, extended across most of the site and sealed the natural subsoil (L3). Layer 2 probably consisted mainly of subsoil, reworked and redeposited as a result of post-Roman activity, such as cultivation. It was sealed by dark greyish-brown modern topsoil (L1), which was 0.2-0.3m thick. In places there were also thin deposits of modern dump/make-up at or near the modern ground surface. A large modern pit was uncovered during trenching in the north-western corner of the house/garage. It measured at least 6 m across and was up to 2.0m deep. The pit had a blackish, loamy fill, and contained many tree fragments as well as some modern rubble. Information from the contractors suggests that this was probably dug in the early 2000’s. The large pit cut a modern well or soakaway. The latter was reached at a depth of 2.0m below the modern ground level and measured approximately 2.8m across. It was constructed of brick with a concrete lining. Standing water was observed within the well/soakaway at approximately 2.1m below the modern ground level. The natural subsoil (L3) was reached at a depth of approximately 2.0m below the modern ground level in this part of the site. A small quantity of unstratified (U/S) finds of Late Iron Age (LIA), Roman, medieval, post-medieval and modern date were recovered from the site. The finds consist of pottery and ceramic building material (CBM) and the majority are of Roman date. They came from the machining of the trenches, from the spoil heaps, and from the surface of the site in the north-western part of the plot.