Roman Legionary Fortress Annexe Ditch, See also Legionary Fortress Rampart MCC478, Legionary Fortress MCC477.

During the contractor's excavations at Lion Walk 1971-4 (ECC330), the ditch of the Legionary fortress annexe was traced for a distance of 40m and found to stop 9m short of the north-south ditch of the fortress. The ditch was sectioned completely in one place only (Site A/R) where it was found to be 2.5m deep and 5.0 to 5.7m wide.<1>

During the excavation of 7-15 Long Wyre Street in 1979 (ECC373) the legionary ditch was observed. As at Lion Walk, the northern edge of the ditch was partly excavated at the south-east corner of the site. No full section was obtained.<2>

During the excavation of a pipe trench in Castle Park in 1983 (ECC375), a shallow ditch was revealed in the middle of the Upper Castle Park. The ditch was 0.7m to 1.0m deep, with a width of 4.6m initially being exposed., suggesting a total width of around 6.0 metres. Two marble veneer fragments and a shale fragment were recovered from the upper backfill. 'The most likely explanation for the position of the ditch is that it belonged to defences of the fortress annexe, although this is not supported by the shallower depth'. However, 'in view of the nature of the evidence the date and function of the sand must remain inconclusive'.<3>