During the excavations at Balkerne Lane in 1973-6 (ECC332) a Roman building (CAT Building 58) 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 building was one of a range (see MCC573, MCC574, MCC587, MCC588) that formed a frontage of strip-houses along the south side of the main Colchester to London Road (MCC475). It was different to the other buildings in that it did not share a passage along the street and its front wall was not built on any foundation. A hearth and oven were recorded from within the building.<1>