A watching brief was carried out during pre-construction ground investigations at Lincoln College, Abbey Street, Lincoln. The watching brief monitored machine-excavated test pits to depths of 3.0m where attainable. Ranging in size between 2m square (duble piles) and 2 by 0.60m (single piles). The watching brief indicated the potential for a high level of destruction to archaeologically significant remains; in particular, to a well preserved friary building at the western end of the site. To mitigate the impact of this work, a programme of more intensive excavation and recording was instigated (LI5138). {1}{2}