Thirty seven? abortive exploratory trenches were excavated by museum volunteers close to the site of a Roman apsidal building found during an excavation in the garden of No.22 Crouch Street. The work was undertaken ahead of the construction of a car park in the garden of 'The Firs', Maldon Road. The trenches were located in the SE corner of the garden which was a high point some 8-10 ft above the general ground level. This area of ground was to be reduced in level by about 7 feet. Negative evidence.<1>