An archaeological evaluation, comprising five trial-trenches (T1 and T2 were 0.95m and T3-T5 were 1.8m wide) excavated along the eastern and southern edges of the car park, was undertaken by Colchester Archaeological Trust in April 1996. The site had been heavily disturbed and terraced (the railway turntable enclosure was located in T3 and T4), and natural was encountered at c.1-1.5m below ground level, although it varied from c.0.4m to c.2.1m. In addition, groundworks had already commenced across the site before any archaeological investigation was undertaken. A grave-shaped feature F1 was defined, 2.5m long x 0.8m wide x 0.3m deep, indicative of an inhumation burial, but there was no surviving bone, grave goods or coffin remains.<1> A watching brief was subsequently undertaken across the site (ECC3488).<1>