Excavation in advance of redevelopment, by R J Poulton and M G O’Connell for SCC and DoE, revealed (May) a wall foundation and traces of another robbed out in the outer court (south), and (August) a probable wall of the stable block and half of the outer gatehouse.

Excavation by R J Poulton for SCC, HBMC and E & D; Simmons. The stables area and the outside of the northern inner courtyard wall (with garderobe pits and chimney breasts) were recorded early in the year. Later on a new building with two polygonal and two rectangular rooms was discovered. It may have been a Henrician period banqueting house. Trial trenching and observation of contractors' work in the kitchen court area was also carried out (pl 1)..

Excavation by Lesley Howes for the Painshill Park Trust continued, in conjunction with the scheme to restore the 18th century landscape garden. Several follies were examined in 1983/4: the Temple of Bacchus was rediscovered, the Grotto was cleared and its water circulating system re-established, and the Mausoleum's floor was recorded. In 1985 work was concentrated on the Hermitage, the Turkish Tent and the Water Wheel (original site). Many other trenches established aspects of the former landscape such as shrubberies, paths and lawns. (202)

Brick shaft and culvert of the former Vanbrugh house recorded by M Curtis for WARG (235). Geophysical survey to locate the former house site accurately also planned.

Observation of gravel extraction by R J Poulton and S P Dyer for SCC and Redland located a buried former river channel about 30m wide and parallel to the Thames.

Excavation by M Curtis for WARG in advance of proposed redevelopment uncovered early post-medieval to 19th century deposits. (235, 239

Trial excavation and survey by R J Poulton for SCC and J Sainsbury revealed only scattered artefacts including probable Mesolithic flints and prehistoric, RB and medieval pottery. It appeared that medieval ploughing had destroyed all ancient levels which may have existed. (235)

Site watching by M Curtis for WARG close to Mount Felix failed to produce any further prehistoric or Saxon material.

Small-scale excavation by M Curtis for WARG located flints thought to be Neolithic.

Suggested by T E Evans that surface excavations, previously interpreted as iron ore workings, were formed by digging for ballast for construction of railway track. (SIHG 47)