Visit an archaeological dig at Cudmore Grove

Built in 1543 under Henry VIII’s reign, dig volunteers will help explore the defensive strategies of the blockhouses which were part of a coastal military defence programme to defend the mouth of the Colne estuary.

Located at Cudmore Gove, the blockhouse is the only example in Essex with upstanding earthworks instead of the typical stone structure, as the defences were constructed of ‘earth and board’.

Place Services at Essex County Council have been working in partnership with Historic England to organise the excavation, while the Colchester Archaeological Trust will create a record of the site before it is lost to coastal erosion.

During the excavation from Tuesday 21 to Friday 31 July, people will be able to visit the dig site between 10.00am to 1.00pm and 1.30pm and 3.00pm, and ask the team more about what they’re doing and their recent finds.

The excavagtion team intend to include tables of their finds, as well as intepretation boards, and these will be available to view in/or near the Kiosk and car park while the dig takes place.