Monument record MCC1583 - Roman Barrack Block, Legionary Fortress, Sixth Form College, North Hill, Colchester

Summary

Roman Barrack Block, Sixth Form College, recorded in 1997.

Location

Grid reference TL 99303 25337 (point)
Map sheet TL92NE
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

A watching brief was undertaken during the rebuilding of the eastern end of the main school block. Building work on a small extension on the north-east corner of the college revealed considerable modern destruction including a maze of service trenches. In the bottom of the latter, an early Roman military plinth survived relatively intact at a depth of just over 1.5m. It was of diagnostic pebble-and-mortar construction, approximately 0.8m wide, and was aligned north-south. The plinth was traced from the contractor's north section southwards for slightly over 2m, where it was cut by a modern foundation. The upper surface of the plinth had been damaged by the contractors, although it survived intact in section at a depth of 1.43m (c.22.35m OD) below the modern ground level. The plinth appeared to cut natural sand, and was sealed by a layer of clean, brown sandy loam 0.42m thick, which was probably either demolition debris or early colonial make-up. It was not possible to establish whether any associated layers, such as floors, survived to either side of the plinth. The plinth lay approximately 51.7- 53.7m north of barrack block excavated in 1984-5. The former was probably part of the eastern end of an east-west barrack block, but belonged to the cohortal group of six barracks to the north of the group which included that found in 1984-5. Due to the vacant areas left within the fortress, the exact layout of the more northerly group remains unclear, although the 1997 plinth may be part of the second barrack from the south, a back-to-back barrack connected to the third barrack.<1>

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Evaluation Report: Benfield, Stephen (CAT). 1997. AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION AT ELD LANE, COLCHESTER.. 7/97G.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Dec 9 2016 2:14PM

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