Iron Age Cremation Cemetery, Lexden Park-St Clare Road.

'Celtic' vessels found behind St Clare Road. In 1908 a water main was laid along the west side of St Clare Road, and funerary vessels were found approximately 140 yards east of Lexden Rampart and nearly 300 yards south of the London Road. These were the first to identify the pre-Roman cemetery at Lexden.<1> Marked on OS map.<2>

Philip Crummy divides the various finds from this area into 10 pre-conquest graves:<3>
Grave 1: From Mr John Harper's garden in 1922. Pedestal urn of CAM form 201 containing cremated bone COLEM 1922.4311. Hull's Grave Group 196)
Grave 2: From Mr J Harper's garden in 1922. Two similar bowls or cups of form CAM211 (COLEM1922.4312-13) and a plain barrel jar of form CAM118 (COLEM 1922.4310) containing cremated bone. Hull's Grave Group 196)
Grave 3: Probably from Mr J. Harper's garden in 1922. A lidded bowl lid COLEM 1923.4410, COLEM1923.4409.
Grave 4: Mr V. E. Marshall's garden in about 1920. Hull Grave 189. Fragments of a lidded bowl and a lid of form CAM252 COLEM1920.3964.
Grave 5: All 'found during recent excavation in Lexden Park' (Colchester Museum Report 1909,4). Almost certainly found in 1908 at the spot marked on the Ordnance Survey's 25" map of 1920-21 where 'Celtic urns were found in 1908-13'. Seven pre-conquest vessels plus sherds (COLEM1909.1766), presumably represent more than one grave. Hull's Grave 166. One pedestal urn of form CAM 201 (COLEM1909.1758), two pedestal urns of forms CAM 202/3 (CM1756.09 & 1909.1757 resp), a cordoned bowl and lid of form CAM 252 (CM 1909.1759), a small bowl or cup probably of form CAM221 (COLEM1909.1761), a small pedestal bowl which has a lid and cannot be paralleled at Sheepen (CM 1760.09) and a fragment of a shale tazza (CM1765.09). The group contains three post-conquest pots (COLEM1909.1762-1764). At least one (COLEM1909-1764) was not found with rest, but when a water-main was being laid in Lexden Park.
Grave 6: Almost certainly from the spot marked on the Ordnance Survey's 25" inch map of 1920-1 where 'Celtic urns were found in 1908-13'. Presumably from several graves. Hull's Grave 174. A pedestal urn probably of form CAM201 (COLEM1913.2727), two pedestal urns of form CAM201 (COLEM1913.2720 & COLEM1913.2721) a pedestal urn of form CAM 202/3 (COLEM1913.2719), a BOWL OR CUP AND LID FORM cam211 (COLEM 1913.2722-2723), fragments of a shale bowl of form CAM210 (COLEM 1913.2726), a pedestal bowl of form CAM 214b (COLEM1913.2725) and a jar similar in form to CAM 249 (COLEM1913.2724) (The museum holds a wooden copy of a pot (COLEM 1913.2861) which probably represents the shale vessel COLEM1913.2726).
Grave 7: From Lexden Park. Given to the Museum in 1912 by Dr P. Laver and thus likely from Mr V. E. Marshall's Garden. Hull's Grave 172. Pedestal urn of form CAM202-3 containing cremated bone. COLEM 1912.2623
Grave 8: From the site of Mr V.E. Marshall's house in 1912. A variant of form CAM214b. Hull's Grave 174. COLEM 1912.2606.
Grave 9: From Mr J. Harper's garden in 1922. Buff flagon with 3 ribbed handle (form CAM136A) and a so-called 'bucket'.
Grave 10: From Mr V.E. Marshall's garden in 1922. Lower part of a small late Iron Age pot with a cordon on the body and a small bead on the base (COLEM 1922.4336) The fabric hard, brown, and micaceous and the pot is burnished externally including the base.

See also Hull <4>