A trial-trenched evaluation, comprising 11 trenches, was undertaken by Colchester Archaeological Trust in 2017 prior to submission of a planning application for new development and following demolition of the existing buildings. Two of the trenches (T12 and T13) were located within the area of the Roman Circus (Scheduled Monument) and encountered remains at depths of 0.27-0.39m below current ground level. Trench T12 was positioned over the central barrier, and the shallow remains of a robbed-out wall foundation (F87) were identified. Trench T13 was positioned over the southern cavea. The remains of the robbed-out outer cavea wall foundation were identified (F89) along with the robbed-out and in situ remains of two N to S walls/wall foundations (F92/F94 anf F91/F93) with metalling F88 in between them. These represent the remains of a passageway or vomitorium leading to the cavea seating area. The remaining nine trenches were located to the south of the circus. Twenty-one Roman features, predominantly of 2nd to 3rd century date, were identified: nine ditches, two ditches/gullies, five pits, four possible inhumation burials and one possible pyre site or bustum (F67 in T16).<1>