Neolithic

Cobham Park Estate, Bookham

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU for Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd of land to be used as a tip site for soil disposal from the M25 Junction 8-10 widening. Several pieces of struck flint probably of Neolithic or Bronze Age origin were recovered from the ploughsoil. No evidence for a feature noted on aerial photographs was discovered and it seems certain that the crop mark was caused by differential ploughing.

Mizen’s Farm, Horsell

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU, for TAG McLaren Holdings Ltd, of the site for the new TAG McLaren HQ, revealed a general spread of features of prehistoric (both Mesolithic/Early Neolithic and Bronze Age), Roman and medieval date. The majority of the features were gulleys and ditches. No focus of activity was identified. It seems likely that the settlement(s) lay outside the evaluated area, possibly near Mizen’s Farm itself. (321)

Princess Royal Sandpit, Runfold

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU, for BFI Ltd, of two areas permitted for mineral extraction, produced little of archaeological interest except for an area centred at SU 861 473. Here no features were revealed, but numerous finds of both prehistoric and Roman date were recovered. Analysis of the soils from which these finds were recovered indicates that they are essentially hillwash. This suggests occupation nearby, on higher ground, in both the prehistoric and Roman periods. Unfortunately, the area of higher ground adjacent has previously been quarried.

42 London Road, Bagshot

Excavation by SHAHT continued. Further evidence for the 17th-19th century tannery was recorded, below which flood deposits sealed levels of Romano-British date. Pottery recovered indicates occupation from the mid/late 1st century through to the late 3rd. Further flood deposits below these levels sealed ditches associated with concentrations of burnt and struck flint and pottery, which appears to be early Neolithic in date. (309)

Central Trading Estate, Staines

Evaluation and subsequent excavation by J McKinley of Wessex, for MEPC, was carried out in advance of the redevelopment of the estate. The evaluation identified three broad zones within the site: the edge of the town gravel island, a broad alluvium filled channel to the north and, beyond this, a second gravel island. Subsequent work concentrated on the two islands. Excavation on the northern island (centred at TQ 033 719) recorded part of an enclosure/field system of Bronze Age date and another of Roman date, as well as agricultural features from the medieval period.

The Close, Vicarage Road, Staines

Evaluation by D Hopkinson of AOC, on behalf of Nicholas King Homes, in advance of residential redevelopment revealed a number of features, including a possible cultivation mark containing a sherd of mid to late Bronze Age pottery. Subsequently an area excavation was carried out by R Entwistle of AOC and a watching brief was also maintained on the development. A small assemblage of Mesolithic flints was recovered, as well as some sherds of Neolithic and early Bronze Age pottery.

Home Farm, Laleham

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU of Phase 5 (and parts of 6A and 9) of this mineral extraction site, for Greenham Construction Materials Ltd, revealed a number of features of prehistoric date. Subsequent area excavation (centred TQ 062 686) revealed a number of small pits and post holes and a substantial waterlogged pit -believed to be a waterhole, all likely to be of Bronze Age date. Two ditches found running roughly parallel to one another, six metres apart, could be the remains of a contemporaneous trackway. (311, 314)

Fairylands Caravan Park, Laleham

Evaluation and subsequent excavation by R Taylor-Wilson of PCA, for Crest Homes, of this redevelopment site adjacent to the Thames. Struck flints recovered indicate Later Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement in the near vicinity, with some indication of Later Mesolithic or Early Neolithic activity as well. The site was most extensively occupied in the Later Iron Age, when a settlement, probably a small farmstead, was established, the main focus of which was outside the excavated area. The main features excavated were a series of enclosure ditches and numerous pits and postholes.

Tattenham Way, Banstead

Fieldwalking by P Harp of the BHRG has recorded a quantity of flints, mostly of Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age date; the flints are mostly scrapers, awls and secondary flakes. Some Mesolithic flints have also been recovered, including a blunted-back microlith and a tranchet axe. (314

Walton Heath, Walton-on-the-Hill

Observation by S Dyer, for SyAS, of disturbance caused by the excavation of a series of trenches for an irrigation system on the golf course, adjacent to the Roman villa. North of the villa site a concentration of Romano-British tile was observed but these may have been redeposited previously, to infill a hollow of some kind. Elsewhere a few sherds of greyware pottery were recovered. The disturbance was also observed by the BHRG who collected a quantity of Roman pottery, mainly 3rd century greywares, and also noted the concentration of tegula and imbrex tiles. (313)

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