Site Event/Activity record ECC2952 - Trial-trenched evaluation at Colchester Royal Grammar School, 6 Lexden Road, Colchester

Location

Location Colchester Royal Grammar School, 6 Lexden Road, Colchester
Grid reference TL 98 24 (point)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Technique(s)

Organisation

Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd

Date

February 2010

Map

Description

Two small evaluation trenches were excavated by Colchester Archaeological Trust within the footprint of a proposed extension to the sixth form block revealed a possible robber trench and two modern features. The trial-trenches were placed in a grassed garden area to the north of the sixth form block (to be extended). <1> T1 was excavated through two layers, with natural defined at c.450mm below the ground surface: L1, a 200mm-thick layer of modern topsoil; L2, a 240mm-thick layer of made ground containing peg-tile (not retained); and onto the top of L3, a natural sand and coarse gravel. The trench revealed two features, F1 and F2. F1 was a linear trench, aligned ENE to WSW, the fill of which contained mortar flecks. There were no dated finds from F1 but, given its alignment and position in relation to the walled cemetery, F1 is interpreted as a possible robber trench representing the robbed-out south wall foundation of the walled cemetery. The feature was undated: it could be Roman or medieval. F2 was a post-hole, the fill of which contained pieces of modern plastic. T2 was also excavated through a similar sequence: L1, a 250mm-thick layer of modern topsoil; L2, a 400mm-thick layer of made ground containing peg-tile (not retained); L3, a natural sand and coarse gravel. The only feature in this trench was a large modern pit F3. This had a disturbed fill, and, although its origin is unknown, it is a probably a tree or bush has been removed from this spot.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Evaluation Report: Holloway, Ben and Brooks, Howard (CAT). 2010. An archaeological evaluation by trial-trenching at Colchester Royal Grammar School, 6 Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex. CAT report 538.

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

  • A robbed wall foundation at the Colchester Royal Grammar School (Element)

Record last edited

Sep 28 2015 1:21PM

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