Morant description and excavations from 1973-4.
Morant states that `near half of a very fine and elegant (pavement) was discovered, 12 May 1763, on the N side of High Street, in a garden belonging to Mr John Bernard, appothecary and chirugeon, late part of a yard of the Falcon and Queen's Head Inn (=the Cups). Mr Bernard hath enclosed and covered it, in order to preserve it .. an exact drawing of it was engraved and delivered with Lexden Hundred, when that part of the History of Essex was published'. Near this was found either part of the same or another when a stable was pulled down, which was supposed to be an old Roman building. Original colour drawing reproduced in source 1. The decorated portion of the pavement (which is stated to have been found in the garden of the Three Cups about 3ft below the surface in 1763) was probably c.10ft square. <1> Probably the same pavement noted by Cromwell "A fragment of ... pavement was discovered in the market place but which was then part of the garden of Mr Wallis, a tradesman whose house fronted the High Street and is now part of the Three Cups Inn. It remains where it was found, at the depth of a few feet from the surface ... being partly bricked over and partly covered by a trapdoor ... the whole ... from neglect and the admission of rain is going rapidly to decay". <1> <2> See source 3 for other refs. <3>
Major excavation in 1973-4 before construction of office block. Main trench revealed:-
Excavation of insitu deposits remaining revealed remains of a military street;
building 152 : with partly sunken rooms, three rooms of building examined showing evidence of burning ;
Building 153: limited remains of house remained including a hearth.
Building 154: Small part of a house with a 'semi-cellar' discovered.
Extensive finds. Only those hihlighted in report on SMR. <4>