Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by N Wells of FA revealed no finds or features of archaeological significance

Watching brief by L McCaig of WA recorded no archaeological finds or features although the natural geology was not reached owing to the depth of modern disturbance and the limited extent of the impact of the development.

Evaluation by P Kehoe of AOC within a car park north of the studios produced no finds or features of archaeological significance.

A third phase of excavation by K Welsh of OA in advance of continued mineral extraction, revealed a considerable degree of truncation, previously noted across the site (SyAC 99, 232) that became increasingly marked towards the west. As a result, few archaeological features survived in the Phase 3 area other than a sparse scatter of more deeply cut pits, one of which, probably a waterhole, produced a socketed copper-alloy axe of the Sompting type, variant Cardiff II. The type dates from between c 800 and 600 BC and is found throughout much of southern England, the Midlands and South Wales.

Evaluation by O Rouard of ASE revealed no finds or features of archaeological significance.

Evaluation by D Hopkinson of ASE revealed a generally undisturbed stratigraphy overlying the natural Kempton Park Gravel but no finds or features of archaeological significance.

Watching brief by P Mason of ASE revealed that no subsoil horizon was present, suggesting that the entire site had previously been truncated down to the natural substrate.

Evaluation by T Collie of SCAU on the site of the new Spelthorne fire station revealed shallow linear ditches and a pit, all of probable Iron Age date.

Watching brief by A Hood of FA revealed several possible ditches/gullies and two small undated pits or tree-throw holes. The majority of the ditches were on a north-west, south-east/north-east, south-west co-axial alignment, suggesting that they represent the remains of a former ditched field system. There was a general paucity of artefactual material from the ditches, although a single sherd of porcelain pottery from one of the fills could indicate that they date to the later medieval or post-medieval period. Two small sherds of possible Bronze Age pottery were recovered from a subsoil layer.

Evaluation by W Weller of SCAU recovered a number of oyster shells but revealed only features indicating modern disturbance.