Monument record MCC7891 - Medieval Bastion 1, Colchester

Summary

P.G. Laver excavated the site of Bastion 1 in 1923, revealing the construction of the Roman town wall behind the bastion.

Location

Grid reference TM 0019 2518 (point)
Map sheet TM02NW
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

P.G. Laver excavated here in 1923, revealing the construction of the Roman town wall behind the bastion. Above natural sand was 1' 7" of sandy clay, then 6" of sandy material, then 3' 3" burnt clay, which Laver regarded as foundation for the wall. Upon this the foundation consisted of 3' 5" of roughly coursed medium-sized rubble, capped by a single tile course. Above this came four septaria courses, followed by four of tile and so on in the normal manner. Hull gives a section and photograph. The photograph shows that the face was much damaged before the Medieval bastion was built. It seems that the foundation projected beyond the face but Laver left no note of this. Very little was found in the earth excavated, the few pieces of pottery were all Roman. Presumably they came from the filling of the bastion and are no value as evidence. As at Bastion 5, the filling seems to comprise soil taken from the surface nearby, containing Roman remains in plenty but nothing late.<1> - <6>

A magnetometer and topographic survey was carried out in the grounds of East Hill House. A negative linear anomoly aligned N-S is possibly a street, revetment, or terrace.<7>

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <1> DESC TEXT: Hull, MR. 1958. Roman Colchester. pp45-46.
  • <2> DESC TEXT: Laver, P.G.. 1923. DESC TEXT by Laver, P.G.. Diary, 6, 9, 14 February.
  • <3> Artifact: Colchester Museum. unknown. ARTEFACT Col Mus. Acc No 4417.23.
  • <4> Graphic material: Scarfe, KC. 1923. ILLUSTRATION by Scarfe, KC.
  • <5> DESC TEXT: Priddy, DA. unknown. SMR.
  • <6> RECORD SHEET/FORM: Ordnance Survey. unknown. OS cards. TL92NE4.6, 1976.
  • <7> Geophysical Report: Johnson, A.E.. 2003. East Hill House, Colchester, Essex : Magnetometer (gradiometer) & Topographic survey.

Finds (1)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Feb 6 2017 1:51PM

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