Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation trenches dug by SyAS under the direction of R Savage proved the existence of substantial brick clamps as indicated by magnetometry survey in 2009; the clamps remain undated but are probably medieval. Test pits confirmed a scattered presence of Roman tiles to the east of St Peter’s church, but only one sherd of domestic Roman pottery was found (and that well-rolled and close to the surface of the field). A test pit at an adjoining property produced large stratified sherds of early 12th century pottery, co-incident with the building or rebuilding of St Peter’s church c AD 1100–20.

Two phases of evaluation by S Mounce of WA in advance of flood protection, landscaping, tip remediation and redevelopment alongside the Hoe Stream. The first phase revealed a significant depth of alluvial deposits, late 19th and early 20th artefacts likely to have been washed up and deposited by the Hoe in a trench closest to the modern course of the stream, but no deposits of archaeological interest. The second phase revealed alluvial layers within all of the trenches, confirming that the site historically lay within the flood plain.

Watching brief by W Weller of SCAU. No features of archaeological significance were revealed. Small quantities of modern pottery and ceramic building material suggested 20th century disturbance across the area.

Watching brief by D and A Graham of SyAS on tree clearance work. No finds or features of archaeological significance were revealed.

Evaluation by L Capon of AOC. Only post-medieval features, including a former tree pit, a shallow gully and the burial of a small dog, were revealed.

Evaluation by N Shurety of BA, continuing from work undertaken in 2009, revealed a series of walls, drainage and pit features of post-medieval and modern date.

Evaluation by J McNicoll-Norbury of TVAS. A single pit containing medieval pottery and a modern wall were revealed.

Excavation by G Dawkes of ASE. A small quantity of Mesolithic flint was recovered, mostly from later features. The earliest datable features were four pits containing Early Neolithic pottery and flintwork. A scalene point recovered from one of the pits may represent the continued use of Mesolithic technology into the Early Neolithic. Three ditches containing Neolithic flintwork were revealed, although it was considered that these may be residual finds in later prehistoric features.

Fieldwork by T Munnery of SCAU and volunteers from the Wealden Glass Project to locate and record medieval glass furnace sites. No evidence for glass production was found during fieldwalking, and magnetometry survey illustrated only possible agricultural features and some positive anomalies in a fairly random order, but nothing to indicate the location of a furnace or glass production activity.

Evaluation by D Graham of SyAS to examine the D-shaped enclosure revealed by geophysical survey in 2008. The enclosure was found to be of a Late Iron Age date, with significant quantities of pottery recovered. A nearby rectangular enclosure was also investigated, and found to be later, of 2nd century date.