A decorated lead coffin, exotic grave goods and a story 1,700 years in the making.
The Lexden Gardens site has made national headlines after the BBC reported on the discovery of a late-Roman burial during archaeological works at the former Essex County Hospital in Colchester.
The woman, believed to be of high status and in her late 20s or early 30s, was found buried in a decorated lead coffin alongside jet hairpins and rare glass flasks. Residue analysis identified frankincense, gypsum and exotic resins inside the coffin, offering a rare glimpse into Roman burial practices. Archaeologists have named her the “Lexden Lady”, and her coffin and remains went on display at the city’s Roman Circus visitor centre on Saturday.
Adam Wightman, director of archaeology at the Colchester Archaeological Trust, called it “one of the most fascinating Roman burials we have worked on in Colchester in recent years.” Robert Masefield, archaeology director at Tetra Tech Consulting Ltd, went further, describing it as “the most spectacular” find he had seen across decades of excavating Roman burial grounds.
Why this matters for Lexden Gardens
The Lexden Gardens site sits along Lexden Road, the original Roman road into Colchester, one of Britain’s oldest cities. A section of that road was first uncovered on site in 2021, and the archaeological significance of the land has shaped every stage of the project’s planning and delivery.
Lexden Gardens is a three-phase regeneration masterplan transforming the former Essex County Hospital site, which closed in 2018, into a new residential neighbourhood of 120 homes. Phase 1 is delivering 63 of those homes through a combination of Grade II listed conversion, facade retention and new-build design. Enabling and archaeological works were completed ahead of construction to ensure the development reflects the history beneath the surface – and this discovery is a powerful illustration of why that approach was right.
Potter Raper’s role
Appointed by Essex Housing Development LLP, we are providing Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor and CDM Principal Designer services across the project.
From the earliest stages, our team has worked closely with heritage specialists, archaeologists and statutory bodies to ensure the scheme is delivered with the care this site demands. That work has included strategic procurement and phasing, cost planning, Value Engineering, and ongoing stakeholder coordination – all underpinned by a respect for the long-term vision for the site.
Phase 1 reached a major milestone with its topping out ceremony in October 2025, and homes are expected to be available to purchase off-plan soon, with completion anticipated later this year.
Read the BBC article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9p05y31p8o
Visit our Lexden Gardens project page here.
Images courtesy of Chetwoods.
