During the excavations at Balkerne Lane in 1973-6 (ECC332) a Roman building (CAT Building 55) 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 is believed to have taken the form of 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 MCC573, 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.

The building had been destroyed by fire with the result that its remains were reasonably well preserved. The building had framed walls with ground-plates, parts of which survived in situ as charcoal. Elsewhere the position of ground-plates was indicated by slots. One contained a large pit.

To the south of the building was a small fragment of mosaic (MCC590) and although it is possible that this belonged to the building, it was thought more likely that it belonged to a separate structure.<1>