Excavations took place on the site of the former Royal Eastern Counties Institution market gardens and two tennis courts, prior to development for a bus park. The investigations were undertaken by K.M. Richardson on behalf of the Colchester Excavation Committee and began in the north-east corner of the more northerly of the tennis courts. The first four pits opened revealed the remains of a hypocaust, and part of a building. A second building was later identified immediately south of the hypocaust and a third building was traced in the south-west angle of the same tennis court and continuing across the north-west angle of the court to the south. The site was covered by 4 foot of 'dark –earth.' <1> A Borough engineer's plan shows more excavation trenches than the published plans and it is uncertain whether these were actually opened. <2>