THree areas were examined to assess the state and quality of any surviving post Roman archaeology. Excavation was limited to recent remains since it was clear that the level of destruction was going to be modest. Trial trenches on site A confirmed the map evidence that the area was open land until the construction of houses between 1766 and 1848. Beneath the house was an accumulation 0.5-0.9m thick of dark earth overlying the remains of at least one Roman building. If Speed's map of Colchester is accurate the latest buildings on site B originated between 1610 and 1748. Modern realignment and rebuilding of the adjacent part of West Stockwell Street meant that only the rear half of the remains of those buildings lay on site and the remains were comparatively deep. At site C little more was encountered than C19 dumped deposits. ON site A machine clearance exposed C19 foundations of Nos 32 and 33 on the S half of West Stockwell Street frontage. The buildings were of red unfrogged bricks. The clearance of site B revealed a complex of modern foundations corresponding to the rear halves of properties shown on 1876 OS map. These buildings are also of red unfrogged bricks. <1>