During excavations directed by Dr. H. Laver on the area of land between the Colchester Union and Blatch Square (ECC626), the pavement of a 'Roman Villa' was uncovered by a party of 'sappers and miners' in 1876.<1>

Two pavements were recorded from the site 'now built over'.<2>

What was 'almost certainly' the same pavement as the one discovered in 1876 was uncovered for a second time during excavations at Balkerne Lane in 1973-6 (ECC332). The mosaic (CAT feature ref. HF159) was found to have been almost completely destroyed in the 19th century when St Mary's Terrace was built. All that survived were a few rows of white tesserae surrounded by some patches of red tessellation. No trace of the building in which the pavement lay could be found although it is possible, but unlikely, that the mosaic was part of a house recorded immediately to the west (see MCC593).<3>