Surrey Archaeological Society

Excavation by K Welsh of OA. A small hengiform monument, of probable Late Neolithic date, was the earliest feature revealed. Parts of a Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age field system were also recorded, with evidence for repeated modifications suggesting the relative longevity of the system. The hengiform monument appears to have been incorporated into the field system, rather than being overlain by it, indicating that it was still visible at this time. Evidence for settlement activity contemporary with the field system was also recorded.

Evaluation by N Taylor of OA revealed features associated with the early 20th century development of the site, but no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by J Pine of TVAS revealed two ditches, one undated and the other tentatively dated to the Roman period. A number of trenches were targeted over cropmarks, but no features that correlated with the cropmarks were revealed.

Evaluation and excavation by C Ellis of COT followed initial evaluation of the site by AOC in 2006 (SyAC 94, 368). The work revealed that large parts of the site had been subject to extensive modern disturbance but excavation in two areas revealed evidence of activity from the Mesolithic, Neolithic/Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, medieval and post-medieval periods. The Mesolithic was represented by residual worked flint artefacts from later features.

Evaluation by G Trimble of APS (Archaeological Project Services) revealed pits and ditches indicating the presence of an Iron Age domestic settlement within the north-eastern part of the site with the presence of hammerscale in one of the pits providing evidence of ironworking. A subsequent strip, map and record of the area revealed a total of 22 features of archaeological interest. Two main phases of activity were identified encompassing the Early/Middle Iron Age and, to a lesser extent, the 10th–12th centuries.

Evaluation by J Winfer of AOC revealed features of modern date. No significant earlier archaeological remains were encountered.

Evaluation by P Mason for AOC revealed deposits of alluvium sealed by modern rubble suggestive of horizontal truncation. Samples retrieved from a borehole survey did not contain sufficient organic material to permit palaeo-environmental reconstruction.

Watching brief by A Castle of TVAS revealed a modern pit that cut an earlier undated pit. The latter pit in turn cut two undated deposits that might be fills of a third feature, but as only a small part was exposed, it was not possible to confirm this. Their significance in terms of the history and topography of the abbey are therefore unclear with the overall investigation being too limited in scale to provide satisfactory evidence or conclusions.

Watching brief by S Watson of PCA revealed limited evidence of post-medieval garden deposits presumably associated with the gardens of Cowley House. No evidence of earlier activity was recorded.