Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by C Edwards of AOC. A buried soil layer was examined that contained a small quantity of post-medieval pottery and a clay pipe fragment, but no features of archaeological significance were revealed.

Soil stripping, mapping and sampling by I Howell of MOLA, continuing work that commenced in 2010. Two additional Roman-period urned cremation burials were revealed, as well as a probable Middle Bronze Age vessel, and a shallow gully of indeterminate date. Further areas investigated as part of the phase II investigations showed a lack of prehistoric or Roman activity, although some limited post-medieval evidence in the form of shallow gullies and pits was observed.

Watching brief by N Randall of SCAU during redevelopment across the hospital grounds revealed the heavily truncated remains of a large Middle Bronze Age urn, a vessel type found in both funerary and settlement contexts.

Evaluation by S Thompson of WA. A ditch containing Late Bronze Age pottery and a waterlain soil deposit characteristic of either a river channel or flood plain suggest the site is located within a well-preserved and rich prehistoric landscape.

Evaluation by C Russel of ASE revealed that the site had been previously stripped and levelled almost certainly during construction of the works, and no finds or features of archaeological interest were discovered.

Evaluation by D and G Trimble of APS. A ditch was revealed that contained a significant quantity of Middle-Late Iron Age pottery. Further features found included additional ditches and a pit, all of which contained burnt flint and evidence for ironworking in the form of furnace lining, slag and hammerscale - both flake and spheroidal. The results are highly suggestive of an Iron Age domestic settlement site with associated metalworking being present in the vicinity, which, if confirmed by more extensive investigations, could potentially be of regional significance.

Evaluation by N Randall of SCAU did not reveal any finds or features of archaeological significance.

Watching brief by T Tapply of AC revealed a small pit containing Bronze Age pottery.

Watching brief by T Munnery of SCAU during gas pipe installation works. A post-medieval culvert of likely Victorian date was revealed, together with a small amount of medieval and post-medieval pottery.

Test pit monitoring and watching brief by I Howell and G Rapson of MOLA. The test pits revealed only limited details regarding underlying deposits, together with a small number of Palaeolithic flints – examples of which have been encountered in the area previously. Subsequent monitoring of the main excavation works revealed a moderate amount of additional worked flints, the majority of which were assessed as undiagnostic, although some Palaeolithic and Mesolithic material was present. A number of truncated burnt features were also encountered.