An archaeological watching brief was carried out by Colchester Archaeological Trust in the grounds of St Botolph’s Priory during landscaping work. This work involved the relocation of the war memorial, the creation of new paths and the removal of some trees and shrubs. <1> The landscaping work involved the contractors using a mechanical digger to dig two small trenches (T1-T2) and to strip topsoil from several other areas. In the north-western corner of the churchyard, a trench (T1) was dug 600mm deep for the concrete base of the repositioned war memorial. A trench (T2) for a base for benches was dug approximately 350mm deep nearby. A path was also added in this part of the site, although this was largely laid on top of the existing surface. A quadrangle was laid out between the priory remains and St Botolph’s Church. Initially, the war memorial and its base were removed. The latter was 550mm deep and was set on a layer of sand. The area was subsequently stripped to a depth of approximately 200mm. A hard surface border approximately 3m wide was subsequently laid around a grassed rectangular central area. Paths were also added in the south-eastern part of the site. Other improvements included the upgrading of furniture, which necessitated some minor ground disturbance. The removal and management of trees and shrubs was also carried out. Most of the spoil from the groundwork was retained on site. Over much of the site, a thick layer of topsoil or dark earth (L1) was encountered. This was at least 0.6m thick and, where excavated, was of post-medieval and modern date. The natural subsoil was not reached during the watching brief. Human remains were found during the work, particularly in the churchyard in the north-west corner of the site. However, only loose fragments were uncovered and no in situ burials were disturbed. The bone was subsequently reburied on site (in a shrub bed close to the repositioned war memorial). Part of a headstone (F1) survived in situ in T1 in the northwestern corner of the site. It was aligned north-south and extended into the section. The upper part of the headstone had been broken off and there was no inscription present. The top of the headstone lay only 100 mm below the modern ground-level. In the north-western corner of the quadrangle between the priory remains and St Botolph’s Church, the top of a well (F2) was uncovered during stripping. It was constructed of brick and had an internal diameter of approximately 1m. There was a domed brick capping 0.35m high, with a circular gap, 0.5m across, in the middle. This was covered by a stone slab, which measured 640 x 570mm and had ‘WELL’ inscribed on its upper surface. The top of the slab lay approximately 150mm below the modern ground-level. It seems likely that F2 went out of use around the time that St Botolph’s Church was built in 1836. Following the removal of a shrub in the eastern part of the churchyard, the remains of a low grave monument (F3) were exposed. This consisted of a stone slab, which measured 1.93 x 1.17m and was aligned east-west. It was set on at least two courses of brick. On the slab were the remains of a marble kerb, which measured 1.62 x 0.8m. Within the kerb were several loose gravestone fragments, which were not in their original positions and were placed flat. One of these was a weathered headstone which read: ‘TO THE MEMORY OF MARY THE WIFE OF CAPT JESSE JONES WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE [?] DAY OFAUGUST 18[52] AGED [61] YEARS SINCERELY LAMENTED’