A watching brief was undertaken in 2013 and 14 by Colchester Archaeological Trust during the construction of fences along the eastern site boundary wall and adjacent to the site southern boundary (i.e., the Roman town wall capped by later brick walling), and the laying of services, and boreholes. On the southern site edge, fence post-holes revealed but did not damage the top of the Roman town wall. In other places, topsoil was not penetrated (in some parts of the site, services/fence posts were cut through made ground dumped during the construction of Firstsite). No archaeological finds or features were revealed. The nine boreholes were the deepest intrusions. In Borehole 8, sealed by 1.3 - 1.5m of post-medieval topsoil, there was a layer containing fragments of Roman tile and oysters (a layer consisting of the demolished remains of Roman structures, and possibly overlying more solid structures such as floors), and a possible mortar floor. BH2 and BH5 revealed the same sequence. BH1 revealed at 1.2m a possible opus signinum (pink mortar) floor, and BH3 the remains of an opus signinum floor at 1.2m. BH2, 4 and 9 revealed clay with op sig fragments, suggesting demolished Roman buildings and floors.