A sequence of archaeological remains relating to a single property fronting St Botolphs Street was defined during excavations in 1988-89, dating from the 14th century to the mid 19th century (CAT Building 179).

Apparently extensive RB midden deposits discovered during ploughing in the early 1960s.

C15 and later house, with cross-wing at the east end.

Late 16th century timber-framed and plastered house with red plain tile roof. Enclosed within moated enclosure (MCC7312) on the west side of Layer Breton Heath.

Rodwell suggests this is an Anglo-Saxon church on the grounds of its dedication, situation, orientation and plan, and possibly quite a substantial one.

Built on the site of a Roman Building

St Mary Magdalen's Church was erected in 1853 (consecrated in 1854) on the site of Magdalen Green (at the junction of Magdalen Street and Brook Street) and to the south of the medieval church (MCC418). The 19th century church was demolished in 1994 and there are no visible traces (of church or churchyard) and St Mary Magdalen House (1-6 Magdalen Street) is located on the site of the church.<1><2> The medieval church (which lay to the north) was demolished in 1854, after the consecration of a new church to the south. The churchyard (see also MCC2533) was extended south beyond the earlier brick boundary wall and burials continued in both the old and new grounds until the early 20th century; the churchyard extended along the west side of Brook Street, across the site of the medieval church and as far as the almshouses. Rodwell recorded in 1977, 'The C19 church is a drab building with little historic interest; it is faced with knapped flints on a brick and rubble core (probably containing much medieval stonework from the hospital). The facing flints are falling away at the east end and the soft limestone dressings around the windows and doorways are badly decayed. The cost of maintaining this building will be great. The graveyard is a fairly large, walled area, now disused, with few monuments: presumably clearance has taken place in the past. The monuments include a few heavily weathered C18 headstones and some C19 tombs, only one of which is of real interest: a box-tomb with iron railings.<3>

An archaeological excavation by Colchester Archaeological Trust in 2018 revealed 42 charcoal-rich pits (i.e. pits containing charcoal-rich fills), ranging in date from the Early Iron Age to the post-medieval or modern periods (late 15th to 19th/20th century), as well as a Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pit, an Early Iron Age pit, a late medieval pit and a number of undated features. In addition, two medieval or post-medieval ditches were also revealed.

Late Medieval house at 126 Hythe Hill and The Dolphin Inn.

Four north/south ditches and one east/west ditch recorded by excavation in 2016, primarily of an early Roman date. Another two north/south ditches were identified by evaluation in 2013 (T3, F19 and T4, F2), although F19 could not be traced by excavation. A number of Roman pits/rubbish pits were excavated, indicative of occupation, with finds from the site forming a moderately wealthy assemblage.