The excavation of footings for an extension to the Sixth Form Block (Phase I) and for a new building on the location of the former ‘boarders hut’ (Phase II) at the Colchester Royal Grammar School was the subject of an excavation and subsequent monitoring programme by the Colchester Archaeological Trust between January and July 2011. <1> Phase 1 Between the 24th and 28th January 2011, four footings trenches (T1-T4;) were hand-excavated through soft ground by archaeologists. Following the removal of hardstanding by a mechanical excavator, these footings were extended on the 10th and 11th February. The trenches were 450mm wide and excavated to a formation depth of between 0.75m and 1.0m. Between the 3rd and 11th March 2011, a watching brief was undertaken during the machine-excavation of two trenches (T5, T6) and the western extension of T2 (ie the part of the trench west of F14), and the removal of a large modern foundation (F14 in T7). Phase 2 A second watching brief was undertaken on the 25th and 26th of July 2011 during the excavation of footings for a new building to the south-west of the Sixth Form Block extension. The footings were excavated down to the natural sand/gravel at a depth of 1m-1.4m below modern ground level. A deep deposit of topsoil and underlying dark soil (between 1m and 1.4m deep) overlay the archaeology and natural sand/gravel in both development areas. The dark soil is interpreted as a post-Roman cultivated soil or ‘dark earth’. The cuts of large trenches were identified in the dark soil during Phase I. It is probable that these trenches and perhaps other unidentified excavations through the dark soil are previous archaeological excavations undertaken by teachers and students possibly prior to the construction of the previous building on the site. As a result of these excavations, a substantial quantity of Roman finds (probably originating from underlying Roman deposits) and a small amount of modern/post-medieval material had become incorporated in the dark soil. Three Roman accumulation layers were identified beneath the dark soil dark soil during Phase I and a Roman stone wall footing was discovered during Phase II. The stone wall footing (F1), constructed of large septaria blocks, flint and nodules of ferrous sand conglomerate (probably natural iron panning pieces), was encountered at a depth of 0.8m below modern ground level. The footing was evidently at right angles to the Roman street to the north and must have been part of a structure such as a tomb or small building fronting on to it. Two sherds of Roman pottery (dated late 1st- early 2nd century AD) and a fragment of Roman brick were found within the stone wall footing and in the immediate vicinity. The Roman pottery assemblage consists mostly of sherds of mid Roman (2nd- to 3rd-century) date from bowls, jars, and beakers, together with small numbers of sherds from specialist vessels such as mortaria. Much of this pottery is residual from contexts with either small quantities of sherds of late Roman (mid/late 3rd- to 4th century) date or post-Roman pottery or other post-Roman finds. A large quantity of other Roman-period finds and debris was recovered during the excavations, including fragments of vitrified kiln or furnace lining, light slag and burnt tile which indicate some industrial activity in the Roman period on or near the site. There are also two pieces of architectural stone of probable medieval date which may derive from an ecclesiastical building.