A small-scale archaeological investigation at the mouth of the cave was carried out on 18 May 2002 by a team from Surrey Archaeological Society. The work was requested by Waverley Borough Council’s Heritage Officer in advance of the installation of new wrought iron gates. The landowners kindly gave permission for the work.
For more information please view the attached report
For some years now David and Audrey Graham have been undertaking fieldwork on the site of the building complex at Whitebeech, Chiddingfold in order to gain a better understanding of this enigmatic site. What follows is the text of a recent report to English Heritage dealing with the outcome of a geophysical survey. The report contains a useful summary of what has been achieved to date.
Summary
An analytical survey of Hascombe Hillfort (TQ 005 386) was carried out by members of the Surrey Archaeological Society over the winter of 2008-09, and a magnetometry survey of part of the interior took place in the spring of 2009. A full report of these activities (of which this is a summary) has been lodged in the Surrey Archaeological Society library.
Setting:
Watching brief by A Graham of SyAS. Two possible quarry pits of likely 18th/19th century date were revealed.
Watching brief by D and A Graham of SyAS. Evidence was noted that suggested the existing southern brick boundary wall of the site was built over, and followed the alignment of, a medieval ditch that probably marked the line of the original burgage plot, although evidence for a 15th-16th century structure across the feature suggested that the boundary was not a continuous survival, but had been reinstated at a later date.
Watching brief by D Graham of SyAS. The foundation trenches were filled with concrete prior to the site visit and little evidence of archaeological significance was revealed.
Evaluation and watching brief by D and A Graham of SyAS. Little evidence for domestic occupation of the site prior to the 18th century was revealed, although geophysical survey showed an anomaly that might represent the line of the medieval former town ditch. However, examination of this possibility was beyond the scope of the investigation. Contractors' footings elsewhere on the site provided evidence that suggested some areas had been extensively terraced.
