In 1938-9 basements for the new Public Library were excavated, the work watched by EJ Rudsdale. The NW corner of the insula was found. 32ft of the W wall bordering the street were found with slightly rounded corner and a similar return wall was traced nearly as far eastwards. E of the corner for 18ft the wall had been robbed but thereafter 10ft remained in position with a second, similar wall 15ft S. The latter had enclosed a room with tessellated floor of which two patches remained, extending at least 22ft southwards. Immedieately E of the southern part of this two foundation trenches indicated the position of 2 Roman walls running N-S, approximately parallel and 4.5ft apart. Farther E under the SE corner of the building lay another patch of red tessellated pavement. Other recent rubbish pits had disturbed such of the interior of the house as was uncovered and a Roman rubbish pit appeared to underlie the N boundary wall. "The tessellated pavement found in 1934 lies immedieately against the middle of the S wall of the Library. It was 9ft long N-S continuing in all directions except S" - NB: to which does this refer? <1> Note in Colchester Museum Report with list of coins and other small finds. <2>