Surrey Archaeological Society

Historic building recording by R Harris of the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum of a late 18th century timber-framed shed prior to dismantling and its re-erection at the museum.

Further episodes of fieldwork co-ordinated by N Cowlard and directed by D Bird for the Roman Studies Group of SyAS to investigate the villa and its environs. Initial test-pitting was followed by excavation of features identified in a magnetometry survey carried out in 2008–9 and in a resistivity survey by D and A Graham of SyAS.

Landscape study by H Beamish of OAN, undertaken in 2009, and reported in 2010. Desk and topographical survey identified a wide range of features, many of which could be linked to the early use of the area as farmland prior to the creation of the park in the 19th century. These included ponds, quarries, boundaries and enclosures, a number of which were chosen for more detailed measured survey. Resistivity and magnetometry survey by M and A Roseveare of ArchaeoPhysica was also undertaken in an attempt to locate the remains of a Tudor property known from historic records.

Watching brief by S Hind of SCAU during the excavation of a pipe trench. No finds or features of archaeological significance were revealed.

Evaluation by N Randall of SCAU. Two ditches and a pit of Early Iron Age date were revealed, although the quantities of Late Bronze Age pottery within the features also suggested occupation of this date on the site. Some Late Iron Age pottery was also present, together with flintwork of possible Mesolithic/Neolithic–Iron Age date. Subsequent excavations on the site conducted by G Thacker of OAS revealed more of the ditches, together with an additional pit and a posthole of similar provenance.

Contour and terrain survey by D and A Graham of SyAS. A scatter of flint flakes of possible Neolithic date was noted.

Watching brief by S Watson of PCA. Elements of the outer defensive ditch of Pewley Hill Fort, a 19th century Mobilisation Centre, were recorded. The extensive 19th century remodelling of the site to construct the fort resulted in no finds or features pre-dating this period apparently surviving.

Evaluation by J McNicoll-Norbury of TVAS. A single modern ditch terminus was revealed, but no finds or features of archaeological significance.

Evaluation by D Calow of SyAS. Evidence for Romano-British metalworking, including slag, solidified drips and hammerscale were revealed, as was a substantial ditch. A resistivity survey by D and A Graham of SyAS demonstrated the possible location of a structure. This would provide the first suggestion of a building suspected in the area through the discovery of significant quantities of scattered building materials. (423)

Metal detecting by a landowner uncovered a collection of late 3rd or early 4th century items including a copper-alloy bowl, fragments of three glass vessels, c 4kg of fragments of tin ingot or scrap pewter, late 3rd century pottery, iron objects and a small samian patera, so far thought to be unique, made in Rheinzabern and dated by Joanna Bird to AD 280–350. The objects had been buried together in a small pit.