Roman fort defined by aerial photography, possibly dating to the Conquest period (although it has not been the subject of evaluation/excavation). The site consists of a rectangular defensive ditch (on three sides) with the fourth (west) side defined by Heath Farm Dyke Middle (MCC2095), enclosing an area c.150m N to S and 140m E to W and enclosing an area c.1.6ha. in size - the size for a cavalry ala or an infantry cohort. It is not clear if construction of the fort involved the demolition of the dyke or if the fort simply abutted on to the earthworks, making use of it for part of its perimeter; the position of the fort favours the latter.<1><17><19>

The fort lies c.275m to the north-west of the (supposed) site of Cunobelin's farmstead (MCC7044), defined by a large trapezoidal enclosure, and the (later) large religious complex (c.530m and 380m to the north-west of the theatre (MCC2831) and Romano-Celtic temple (MCC2849), respectively, on the other side of a shallow valley).

NMR photos taken in the summer of 1976 show the whole of the fortification, road and principia. Air photos show a fort occupying the level ground between the heads of two shallow valleys, now dry. The whole of the north side and the rounded north angle and nearby hall on the south side are visible as cropmarks. The south-east angle has been destroyed by a modern road (Maldon Road) while the west side seems to be marked by a hedgerow at the field boundary. This boundary follows the line of one of the Colchester dykes and it may well be that the dyke was incorporated in the defences of the Roman fort. The defences appear to have comprised a broad ditch behind which were two narrow slots, presumably to hold the timber revetments for an earthern rampart.<2>

It was only in June 1976 that the rounded north-east angle appeared with such clarity as to leave little doubt that the known ditch formed part of the defences of a Roman fort. Examination of photos taken in 1961 revealed clear details of the (single) ditch and rampart structure and characteristic plan of a timber headquarters building or principia. The defences consisted of an earth and timber rampart c.3m wide fronted by a ditch of similar width. Only the northern entrance can be seen clearly (in the form of four large post pits at the ends of the rampart's double revetment and a causeway 9m wide in the ditch), although the southern enrance is also partially visible.

In the interior, rows of pits are aligned on both axes of the fort and give a general indication of the layout of the buildings. Traces of actual foundation trenches appear to be visible in a number of places but are generally too fragmentary for interpretation, the exception being the principia, a large square building with a colonaded forecourt.<3> Aerial photos.<4>-<10> Cropmark plot.<11><12>

A date prior to the construction legionary fortress (MCC477), 4km to the north-east, has been suggested (c.AD 43) (although a pre-Roman date has been also suggested).<17>

Summary sheet.<13>

Site Assessment = The site is only visible as a cropmark and is under plough.<1>

AP.<13>

Geophysical surveys (both resistivity and magnetometry) were undertaken between 1996-99, although the results were disappointing (ECC2775).<16><18>

The Monument is part of the Scheduled Monument Gosbecks Iron Age and Romano-British site, List Number 1002180:

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1002180