#ThrowbackThursday – Jacks

For this #ThrowbackThursday we are remembering the work that we did at the former ‘Jacks’ shop [now part of the Three Wise Monkeys pub] in Colchester town centre.

Does anyone remember this shop?

The excavation of 5-6 St Nicholas Street in Colchester town centre, most commonly known as the general store ‘Jacks’, took place over many years. Initial monitoring at the site began in the summer of 2016 and subsequent evaluations and excavations happened between 2017 and 2019.

Trial holes were dug a few metres deep, and this revealed multiple layers, each one evidencing a different time period, ranging from the end of the Boudiccan revolt (AD 60/1) to the medieval and modern periods. Finds included ceramic building material [CBM], pottery , clay pipes and glass vessels!

Jacks was particularly interesting as excavation revealed three phases of Roman activity. Phase 1 is of early Roman date, ending at the Boudiccan revolt of AD 60/1 and phase 2 dates from the early 2nd to the 3rd century; both phases 1 and 2 have structural remains! By Phase 3 at least part of the Phase 2 building had been demolished although some walls were still standing. A ‘charcoal horizon’ dated to the late 4th century covers the site and suggests there was a fire at the end of the phase.

Can anyone spot the carpenter’s mark on the apex of the rafters in the final picture? (Hint: The mark to look for is IV).

Research by volunteer Susi. For more information, check out CAT Report 1614 at cat.essex.ac.uk