Archaeological evaluation at Bridge House, Hythe Quay, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8JB April 2018

An archaeological evaluation by trial-trenching (five trenches) was undertaken at Bridge
House, Hythe Quay, Colchester, Essex during the pre-determination stage of planning, to
inform a planning application for the proposed construction of new residential dwellings.
The Hythe has been the port for Colchester probably since the Norman period. There
were no significant archaeological remains in two trenches (T2-T3). Three medieval pits
were excavated in trench T1 with a medieval pit and linear in trench T4, dating from the
late 11th to the 13th/14th century. Also present in trench T4 was a medieval (late 12th to
14th century) wall foundation of medium to large compacted stones. Looser patches of
compacted medium stones and chalk may represent a second later wall foundation (15th
to 17th century) but could also be the remains of either a plinth or surface. These
structural remains are possibly associated with medieval activity at Hythe Quay.