A trial trenched evaluation was undertaken by Colchester Archaeological Trust in advance of the construction of 10 dwellings at Winnocks Almoshouses (CBC planning application 150234). Two trial-trenches, both 8m long x 1.8m wide, were excavated within the area of the new development prior to the demolition of the existing buildings. T2 revealed no significant archaeological horizons. T1 contained a Roman pit (F1) and small section of possible metalled surface, at c.1.2m below current ground level (modern topsoil (L1, 570-720mm thick) sealed a layer of accumulated subsoil (L2, 440-1040mm thick), which in turn sealed natural sand and gravel (L4)).<1> A small quantity of Roman finds (pottery & CBM) was recovered from F1. While some of the material is quite broken-up they include a large sherd from a storage jar and several moderately large pieces of tile indicating that these are probably likely to be contemporary or near contemporary with the feature and suggesting at least that the feature is likely to be of Roman date. The most closely dated of the Roman finds from F1 is a sherd of Central Gaulish samian from a flanged bowl of form Dr 38 current in the period of the mid-late 2nd century. A single small piece of Purbeck marble from L2 (4) is probably also of Roman date. This has one relatively well-finished face, a smoothed back face and can be identified as a piece of stone veneer. The maximum thickness of the piece is 22mm.