Controlled stripping by P Jones of SCAU during quarry operations on areas D and E. A number of geological features were exposed, although no definite archaeological evidence was seen beyond the presence of a post-medieval drain. A sherd of Bronze Age pottery recovered from a tree-throw hollow, two sherds of probable Late Iron Age–Early Roman pottery from the surface of one of the geological features, and a single long-blade flint of Upper Palaeolithic type were the only artefacts recovered.

Report by G Hayman in SyAC 94, 251–292

Evaluation by A and D Graham of SyAS to investigate the results of the 2002 fieldwalking survey. A concentrated area of tesserae revealed a short distance away from the area of the main villa complex was examined. A substantial post pit was revealed, possibly part of a large timber building. The backfill contained tesserae and the feature is therefore likely to be Roman in date. However, the main surface dump of tesserae probably comes from the nearby 19th century excavations on the site.

Watching brief by D Graham of SyAS during excavation for a concrete seat base on the site of the villa. No structural remains were visible in the 20cm-deep cut, but two pieces of tegula were recovered

Resistivity survey by A and D Graham of SyAS located a linear area of high resistance that is probably the remains of the Roman road known to pass through the site. The feature had a central c 5m-wide band of highest resistance, with a c 5m-wide band of lower resistance readings either side – probably the result of ploughing having scattered the road metalling.

Excavation of Area ‘A’ by G Hayman of SCAU prior to residential development following a series of evaluations in 2002. A number of Mesolithic or Neolithic struck flints recovered attest to occupation in the area for a considerable period. However, the main period of occupation on the site appears to have begun around the middle of the 1st century AD (although some residual pottery fragments of a potentially earlier date were recovered) and to have continued until the late 2nd/early 3rd centuries. A ring gully appeared to be one of the earliest features in the area.

Evaluation on land to the rear of the property by J Lewis of TVAS revealed two pits and a posthole, all containing post-medieval material. A number of earlier but unstratified finds from the site included Neolithic/Bronze Age flints, a single sherd of Roman pottery, and a small assemblage of medieval pottery. These could represent some earlier activity in the area, but might equally have been imported to the site through the agricultural manuring process.

Evaluation by N Garland of ASE revealed two ditches of probable agricultural function, one of which contained two beads of either Roman or early Saxon date.

Evaluation by G Potter of CA recovered a single sherd of unstratified and abraded Roman pottery, but no features of archaeological interest were revealed.