Site Event/Activity record ESF22188 - Evaluation, Former Fire Station, Colchester Road, Ipswich, Suffolk

In June 2013 Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) carried out an archaeological evaluation at the Former Fire Station, Colchester Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 4SS (NGR TM 181 460). The evaluation was commissioned by Hopkins Homes Ltd and was undertaken in advance of the proposed construction of a residential development. The evaluation is required to comply with a planning requirement (Ipswich Borough Council) which requires a programme of archaeological work, based on advice from SCC AS-CT. Trenches 6 and 7 contained numerous early Roman (mid 1st - mid 2nd century) features comprising a very large sunken feature (F1008) that appeared to have a metalled base (L1011), gullies, ditches and pits. While the majority of archaeological features (20) were found in Trenches 6 and 7, a sparse number were located in Trench 1 (Ditch (F1006), Trench 2 (?Roman buried soil L1062) and Trench 3 (Pits F1053 and F1053). The remainder of the site contained features of post-medieval/modern date only, many of which were associated with the fire station complex. Sparse quantities of residual struck flint and burnt flint were found in Trenches 2 (F1008 and F2053), 6 (F1103, F1108 and F1110) and 7 (F1068, F1074, F1081 and F1083). The small number of flints have a diverse date range: a long blade of Palaeolithic or Mesolithic date. Mesolithic blade production on or close to the site is attested to by a core recovered as un-stratified material and micro-blades contained in Ditch F1068 and Gully F1108. The remaining debitage is of later Neolithic to early Bronze Age date.