Surrey Archaeological Society

Geophysical survey by T Desalle and A Bateman of Stratascan revealed several widely spaced curving parallel linear anomalies interpreted as medieval/post-medieval furrows and a linear anomaly that could indicate the presence of a ditch.

Programme of photographic historic building recording by H Green of ASE. The hotel is situated on land that was occupied by a building from 1842. The present building retains elements of this structure, which has been substantially altered. The extensive alterations include the addition of a mock Tudor frontage to the east between 1914 and 1934 and the construction of a large function suite with guest rooms above to the west in the later 20th century. The two outbuildings built between 1842 and 1869 have been converted for domestic use.

Excavations by D Bird for the Roman Studies Group of SyAS. More evidence for structural phasing was encountered providing evidence for the plan of the late (northern) wing and confirming the southern corridor. At the western end of the wing, it was found that the north-west corner of the later building bonded into an earlier structure that was at a slightly different alignment and probably part of an earlier building.

Detailed fluxgate gradiometer survey by J Cook of ASE revealed evidence for archaeological features within the magnetic survey. The results were sparse, but the survey did detect several linear and discrete anomalies of possible archaeological origin.

Evaluation by S Stevens of ASE revealed a Roman gully and two further undated gullies at the northern end of the site, possibly part of a field boundary or enclosure. The presence of a humic garden soil in the north-western part of the site correlates with the area of a small enclosure depicted on late 19th and 20th century maps and suggests that this may have been used for domestic cultivation. A small assemblage of artefacts including prehistoric flintwork, medieval and post-medieval pottery and ceramic building material was recovered from the overburden.

Twelve test pits, excavated by C Hayward and members of SyAS, located throughout the village and at the site of Ockham mill revealed only 19th and 20th century material and probable garden features.

Watching brief and building recording by Dr M Shapland of ASE. Several archaeological features were recorded relating to the 19th and early 20th century development of the adjacent 16th century house.

Evaluation and watching brief by A Taylor of TVAS revealed a heavily truncated gully that produced a small quantity of tile and pottery of mid–late 13th century date.

Members of SyAS, led by R Hooker, undertook a fieldwalking exercise across a recently ploughed field on the southern slopes of St Martha’s Hill belonging to Chilworth Manor. Some 300 flint artefacts were recovered of which approximately 10% were tool forms, mostly blades, cores and scrapers. Two probable Romano-British sherds were recovered together with some late medieval and post-medieval fragments of ceramic building materials, but no significant clusters for any period were recorded.

Evaluation by M Wood of AAL (Allen Archaeology Ltd) revealed that the site had been previously landscaped to facilitate the construction of the former dwelling on the site. No finds or features of archaeological significance were revealed.