Excavations and observations at the former Jacklins shop, High Street, Colchester, Essex – March 1997

Archeological observations and excavation at the former Jacklins premises in the High Street produced a quantity of samian pottery almost certainly originating from a ‘Roman pottery shop’ destroyed on the site in the Boudican rebellion of A.D. 61. The remains of a substantial medieval stone building probably dating to the Norman period were also found. The samian pottery recovered during the watching brief adds to the from the shop is a group of material of considerable significance. That recovered here was residual in later medieval and post medieval layers to 0.5m below the present surface. Destruction levels relating to the original Roman shop were not encountered. Two bore holes would indicate that the in-situ Boudican destruction deposits (which would include the remains of the pottery shop) occur at between 1.0-1.5 and 2.0 metres below the present surface.