Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 349: summary

Watching brief report: St Helena School, Sheepen Road, Colchester, Essex: electricity mains supply cable trench
by Orr, K

Date report completed: 04/04/2006
Location: Sheepen, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL98902583
File size: 3190 kb
Project type: Watching brief
Significance of the results: Neg
Keywords: Scheduled Ancient Monument, Roman pottery, ceramic building materials, animal bone, coins, post-medieval

Summary. Scheduled Monument Consent was given for a trench to be dug along part of the southern boundary of the school. This was for the purpose of installing a new electricity mains supply cable. Roman pottery, Roman tile, peg-tile and occasional animal bone came from topsoil and the interface with the subsoil. Contractors retrieved a 3rd-century Roman coin from the western end of the trench. No features were observed. The presence of a small amount of Roman material is to be expected and indicates Roman activity on the site. It is suspected that the trench was not deep enough to expose Roman or Iron Age features as it was dug through a grassy verge which was slightly higher than the school car-park. The only features of note were reinforced concrete foundations, said by the caretaker to be the remains of air-raid shelters which once stood to the east and west of the main school entrance.