Three test-pits were excavated by Colchester Archaeological Trust in the Sheepen Road car park to test the depth of modern overburden and to identify the highest significant archaeological horizons, in advance of redevelopment. Two test pits (1 and 2) measured 7m x 1.6 in area, while the third (3) was slightly smaller (4 x 1.6m).<1> The test-pits defined 2.0 and 2.5m of recent ‘made ground’ (no earlier than 19th century) above the natural. This comprised an upper modern band of tarmac, concrete and ‘hogging’, from modern ground level to 0.4m below modern ground level (bgl). Below that, there were two layers of dumped soil. The upper (1.0m-1.2m thick) contained lumps of concrete and is of 20th century date. The lower (0.6m-0.9m thick) contained 19th century finds. There were no significant finds or features.