Surrey Archaeological Society

Fifth season of fieldwork undertaken by D Bird for the Roman Studies Group of SyAS. Survey and test pitting followed by excavation continue to improve knowledge of the villa and its surroundings.

This second phase of evaluation, by Les Capon of AOC on behalf of TAB Projects Ltd., revealed two tree pits, probably related to the use of the site as allotments. However, the dominant feature was a wide palaeochannel with remains of pollen that provided evidence for the local flora in the late Devensian / Holocene period.

An archaeological evaluation, and watching brief was undertaken by Nick Carter, Chris Clarke and Jonathan Moller of AOC on behalf of Morgan Sindall Plc, at the site of Cranleigh Village Hospital. The evaluation consisted of three machine excavated trenches with the watching brief monitoring both geotechnical investigations and grubbing of foundations.

An archaeological evaluation, by Ian Hogg of AOC for SCC, consisted of a 2x2m hand dug trench located to the rear of the property. An undated yet presumed post medieval boundary ditch on the same alignment as the current property boundary was recorded; this was overlain by made ground deposits.

Evaluation and watching brief by I Howell and historic building survey by H Robertson of MOLA. The evaluation revealed the northern and southern edges of a water feature shown on maps of 1768, 1801 and 1841, and several red brick footings which appear to have belonged to two phases of greenhouse construction. Groundworks within the area of the water feature were subject to the watching brief, but the majority of these were not deep enough to expose the cut of the feature, and it was not possible to ascertain its function.

Watching brief by J Lewis of TVAS during the excavation of test pits to ascertain whether the construction of extension to the marina would have the potential to impact on archaeology. The construction of the marina involves excavation to a depth of 217mm from the current ground level, and the test pits revealed the archaeologically relevant horizons at depths of below 420mm, so allowing for the preservation in situ beneath the proposed development of any deposits that may be present.

Watching brief by D&A Graham of SyAS. The footing trenches for a conservatory were inspected. The trenches were only 40cm deep however, and cut entirely within a dark soil level that had been extensively disturbed by drains associated with the existing building. No material earlier than the 20th century was noted.