(TR 14975748. Sited from plan auth 1). Between 1947 and 1950 Frank Jenkins and John Boyle carried out excavations in the garden and cellar of No 1 Watling Street. One trench excavated in 1948 lay c4.9m from the city wall and cut across the tail of the Roman bank. The earliest levels were Belgic Iron Age. Roman deposites were represented by a mid 1st century gully and a series of later 1st century AD and second century layers, the latter dated AD120-130. In the late third century the defences were built and the bank piled above the underlying deposits. Overlying the tail of the bank was a further layer which yeilded a coin of Severas Alexander and sherds of a Rhenish beaker of the mid third century. Above this layerwas a further deposit of loose flints and Roman gravel tips. The upper levels of the bank were disturbed by medieval pits. A collection of pre-Roman Belgic pottery from the excavations includedrims of terra nigra ware platters and rim fragments of butt beakers along with rims from cooking pots. Roman pottery was represented by an amphora; several beakers and mortaria. There was graffiti on some of the pottery. (1) Excavations conducted by F Jenkins and J Boyle took place at 1 Watling Street. One trench lying c4.9m from the City Wall cut across the tail of the Roman bank. The lowest levels in the trench were Belgic and these were sealed by the bank which appears to have been c7.3m wide at this point. A series of gravel tips above the bank may have been added to increase its height in the 4th century, possibly when the external towers were built. A number of trenches were excavated near the street frontage. In one of these trenches the metalling of a possible early Roman street was located. This was cut by a later Roman masonry wall. (2)

<1> The Arch of Cant 2 1982 60 plan 65-7 140-41 (S Frere S Stow and P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE49961.

<2> The Arch of Cant; An Assessment 1985 70 (G Andrews) (OS Card Reference). SKE50028.