Surrey Archaeological Society

Excavation by S Nelson and D Hartley of EEHAS. The remains of some of the buildings associated with the gunpowder mills that operated along this upper reach of the Hogsmill river during the 18th and 19th centuries, until the mills closed in c1875, were revealed. Work took place in the area of the Corning House and Mills buildings shown on the 1866 OS map. A plan of 1863 notes those furthest downstream as the Incorporating Mills. Recording concentrated on the Incorporating Mills site where works exposed stretches of brickwork in the left bank of the river.

Watching brief by N Shaikhley of SCAU. The site was found to be heavily disturbed and there were no finds or features of archaeological significance.

Strip, map and sample by R Brown of OA revealed the truncated remains of 19th century railway structures comprising a turntable, a small building and possible platform edges associated with the Hampton Court branch line. The structures were sited on reworked and mechanically compacted gravels although a full sequence of undisturbed Pleistocene gravels and associated fluvial/alluvial deposits was recorded to the west of the structures.

Watching brief by M Wood of AAL (Allen Archaeology Ltd) revealed three pits, one of which was undated, and two of later prehistoric date, containing small quantities of Iron Age pottery and residual early prehistoric worked flint.

Evaluation by T Munnery of SCAU. The earliest material was Late Upper Palaeolithic/Mesolithic and Mesolithic/Neolithic flintwork from later features and overburden although residual, may originate from an occupation site or sites nearby. The most concentrated phase of activity was of Bronze Age, especially Late Bronze Age, date. Pits and ditches and a buried subsoil indicate the utilisation of the site for settlement.

Evaluation by N Randall of SCAU, adjoining that evaluated to the west (below), exposed what may be a natural hollow filled through colluvial or aeolian deposition, two postholes, a narrow ditch, and a possible Middle Iron Age pit.

Geophysical survey and test pitting by C Hayward produced significant quantities of pottery with a range of dates from the later 12th century to the early 18th century. A near-absence of late 18th century and later sherds relates to the probable clearance of the settlement of Middle Green in the early 18th century. (Bulletin 450)

Watching brief by W Weller of SCAU revealed a small quantity of post-medieval building materials as well as one sherd of glazed earthenware pottery. All finds were unstratified. No features of archaeological interest were revealed.

Evaluation by N Randall of SCAU revealed evidence of modern truncation but no finds or features of archaeological significance.

Evaluation by W Weller of SCAU revealed a narrow gully of modern date and confirmed the location of a pond shown on 19th century maps.