During excavations at Balkerne Lane between 1973-6 (ECC332), a Roman timber-lined water main was discovered. The main consisted of a series of straight wooden pipes about 0.2m in diameter and 2.0-2.5m long. These were held together by flat iron bands hammered into the walls of pipes to form water-tight and pressure resistant joints.

The water-main ran along the southern edge of the main Colchester to London Road (MCC475) and was one of a group (see also MCC657 and MCC658) which lined this route, possibly feeding into the properties which fronted onto the street. The pipes were set into a trench. During the early to middle 2nd century the water-mains were diverted from their course to pass under the southern portal of the Balkerne Gate (MCC555). The pipes were taken from their original position and transferred to a new trench dug into the street for this purpose. The pipes eventually went out of use when the but ends of the town ditch (MCC659) were joined together.<1>