Site Event/Activity record ECC428 - Wall arch found in Vineyard Street, Colchester, 1957

Location

Location Vineyard Street, Colchester
Grid reference TL 99744 25012 (point)
Map sheet TL92NE
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Technique(s)

Organisation

Hull, M. R. H. (Rex)

Date

1957

Map

Description

Hull notes 'In September 1957 I discovered that the demolition of a large building on the N side of Vineyard Street had exposed the face of the Town Wall. The site had been levelled and gravelled to make a car park. Just off this gravelling, at the NW corner of the area, an opening in the wall was apparent. Almost as low as ground level a Roman drain about 2ft wide and high, plus the height of the brick arch spanning it, debouched from the wall. It had been covered , or partly covered by modern patchwork of brick, which was now broken, revealing the Roman work. Within lay a mass of broken bricks, mortar and dust. The underside of the arch could be seen to run back a good distance.' The arch was 123m (370ft) east from the centre line of Sheregate steps. The drain was cleared for 9ft revealing a heap of septaria, the arch continued at least another 6ft. <1>

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Hull, M. Rex. Roman Colchester: Walls and Within. loose sheet in page 421.

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

  • Roman drain through Town Wall, Vineyard Street, Colchester (Element)
  • Town Wall, Colchester (Monument)

Record last edited

Jan 21 2016 5:01PM

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