During the excavations at Balkerne Lane in 1973-6 (ECC332), a Roman building (CAT Building 54) was superficially examined prior to machine stripping. Very little is known about the earliest levels of the building so that more than one structure may have been present. Similarly, knowledge of the building in its latest form is also poor, although it may have been similar to MCC574, that is a strip-house laid out along the south side of the main Colchester to London road (see MCC475).

The house was one of a range (see also MCC574, MCC587, MCC588) situated in this position which had a corridor contained within them on their north side. The only place where the building incorporated foundations was along the street frontage suggesting its north wall may have been more substantial. Set back from the street frontage was an oven which could have been inside the building or in a yard behind it.

Unfortunately, the site of the building had been extensively damaged when St Mary's Terrace was built. Structural evidence included bases of packed septaria probably associated with a partition wall. Patches of mortar floor survived as did a few slots of unknown function.