During excavations at Balkerne Lane in 1973-6 (ECC332) a possible Roman shrine was discovered situated on the south side of the main Colchester to London street (MCC475). The building was roughly square in plan and measured 10.8 x 11.2m. The rear wall was of solid construction whilst the others were on piers, perhaps as arcades. The foundations of the piers had been set on wooden piles driven into the bases of the foundation trenches.

The buildings foundations had been thoroughly robbed and no floor levels survived. The unusual plan together with its relationship to the Romano-Celtic temple (MCC556) 'suggest that the building had been a temple'. A fragment of a copper-alloy figurine of Mercury was found in spoil from the Balkerne Lane site and may indicate a deity to which the shrine or the Romano-Celtic temple was dedicated.

Although close dating was not possible it is likely that the building was demolished during the 5th century AD at the end of the Roman period.<1>