Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 1530: summary

Archaeological monitoring and a historic building record of the medieval cellar at Rebow House, 58-62 Head Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PB: October 2019 – February 2020
by Laura Pooley and Mark Baister (with contributions from Dr Matthew Loughton, Adam Wightman, Sarah Carter)

Date report completed: May 2020
Location: Rebow House, 58-62 Head Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PB
Map reference(s): TL 99438 25018 (centre)
File size: kb
Project type: Monitoring and historic building recording
Significance of the results:
Keywords:

Summary. Archaeological monitoring was carried out at Rebow House, Colchester, Essex during groundworks for the replacement of mid 19th- to 20th-century extensions to the rear of the property. Rebow House is a Grade II* listed building (NHLE no. 1337728) of late 17th-century date with medieval cellar and 18th-century frontage. It is also located within the Roman fortress and Insula 34 of the Roman walled town.

Monitoring of groundworks revealed evidence for three separate phases. Phase 1: Activity on the development site predating Rebow House, probably dating from the later medieval to early post-medieval period and including a well and wall foundations. Phase 2: Late 17th- to early 18th-century brick-built drainage features and other wall foundations contemporary with Rebow House and probably located within a rear yard. Phase 3: Mid 19th- to 20th-century extensions to the rear of Rebow House.

Building works inside Rebow House also provided opportunity for a historic building record to be carried out on the medieval cellar.