Surrey Archaeological Society

Test pitting by C Hayward of SyAS recovered medieval pottery from several gardens, together with a small amount of Roman pottery, adding to evidence for settlement in the Roman period.

Geophysical survey carried out by N Lindford, P Lindford and A Payne of HE over the east lawn and meadow at Clandon Park House. Anomalies that correspond to the former layout of the ‘gravel garden’ and can be compared with 18th century depictions of the garden layout were revealed.

Watching brief by N Randall of SCAU during ground level reductions revealed a largely intact soil profile, but no features or finds of archaeological significance.

Geoarchaeological investigation by C Green of QUEST consisting of two boreholes and two test pits revealed that the site lies largely on the Holocene flood plain of the river Wey. Only towards the southern boundary of the site did the ground rise towards the level of the Kempton Park Terrace and the Upper Palaeolithic occupation horizon recorded on the surface of that terrace to the south of the A25 (Ladymead). In that area, extensive disturbance was recorded, probably as a result of the construction of the Guildford and Godalming by-pass in the 1930s and previous building work.

A test pit evaluation by C Douglas of ASE of the west interior of the church identified a north-west/south-east aligned flint and mortar wall parallel to the west wall. It could not be dated and no associated finds were encountered. A number of disarticulated human bones were also uncovered in the north aisle indicating a possible burial or burial horizon at this level in the north-west part of the church

Evaluation by H Nicholls of ASE revealed 88 archaeological features, comprising ditches, gullies, pits and postholes dating from the Roman and medieval periods. Three possible Roman phases of activity were identified. The earliest of these was indicated by a large sub-rectangular enclosure (Enclosure 1) in the very north of the site, of Late Iron Age/early Roman date, together with a possible curvilinear gully.

The final season of excavation by D Calow for the Roman Studies Group of SyAS revealed a small pit filled with burnt flint, pot and charcoal radiocarbon dated to the Late Bronze Age. A north/south ditch 6m to the east contained a few small sherds of flint-tempered pottery and charcoal of very similar date. In total c 50 fragments of Late Bronze Age pottery were recovered, most of it redeposited in Roman features, suggesting there was Late Bronze Age activity in the vicinity.

Excavation by A Haslam of PCA targeted three areas of the site, identified following earlier evaluation (SyAC 99, 218). Area 1 was situated in the south-western corner of the site. It revealed two parallel, north-west/south-east orientated ditches, interpreted as a droveway, and a series of small pits and postholes that formed a sub-rectangular enclosure, possibly an animal pen or paddock, to their east. All were of probable Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age date. A further sub-pen was identified within the south-eastern corner of the enclosure.

Excavation by A Haslam of PCA of 1m2 test pits across a colluvial deposit that covered the site, and previously identified during a programme of evaluation (SyAC 99, 218), produced c 7000 pieces of Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age struck flint. The bulk of the assemblage dated from the later Bronze Age to the Iron Age and may derive from middening practices spanning those periods. Although redeposited, the flint assemblage clearly represents all stages in the reduction process, from the preparation of raw materials through to the manufacture, use and discard of tools.