Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by A Hood and D King of FA in advance of the construction of the replacement bridge across the Thames and creation of an associated site compound and flood compensation area to the south-west. The evaluation did not reveal any features of archaeological interest in the area around the bridge, but a 'toothed' wooden artefact was recovered from the interface of the natural gravels and overlying deposits in one of the trenches, and further work is proposed within the area of its discovery.

Evaluation by C Edwards of AOC revealed that a phase of horizontal truncation took place across the site during the 20th century, probably associated with the construction of an existing building. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed.

Evaluation by C Barton of LPA revealed evidence of previous landscaping but no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Watching brief by N Randall of SCAU within the bounds of the Scheduled Oatlands Palace revealed disturbed ground of post-medieval to modern date, and a pit containing demolition rubble originating from the destroyed Palace walls.

Two phases of evaluation by S Mounce of WA in 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 path 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 floodplain.

Evaluation by J Martin of WA revealed nothing of archaeological interest in the majority of trenches, but one trench within the north of the site and close to an area where previous fieldwalking had recovered a concentration of Bronze Age material revealed two ditches which it was not possible to date and a small pit that contained a sherd of pottery dated to the Iron Age. These features may represent the periphery of any potential archaeological focus present to the north.

Geophysical survey by S Haddrell of Stratascan along the 28km route of a proposed replacement pipeline between Godstone and Tonbridge in Kent. Magnetic susceptibility was undertaken along the route, with areas of potential interest identified targeted with a detailed gradiometer survey. Positive anomalies, possibly of archaeological origin, within the Surrey section included linear features that may be associated with a post-medieval trackway. The anomalies were targeted during a subsequent evaluation by D Britchfield of WA.

Evaluation by N Randall of SCAU revealed a large tree throw hole containing Mesolithic flint, a substantial prehistoric ditch, Bronze Age and Iron Age gullies, a large medieval pit and a post-medieval stone capped culvert. The evaluation illustrated that archaeological deposits lie at a depth that will not be impacted on by the majority of groundworks involved in the development proposal, and they will be preserved in situ underneath it. Those parts of the site where the development had the potential to impact on deposits were subject to a watching brief by N Randall.

Evaluation by C Turner of HN revealed evidence of extensive modern terracing but no finds or features of archaeological interest.

First phase of the evaluation of this site by Z Pozorski of AS revealed a pit and ditch. Although it may be residual, a fragment of Neolithic or Bronze Age struck flint was recovered from the pit. A subsequent monitoring exercise during development did not reveal any further archaeological finds or features. A second phase of evaluation revealed an undated ditch.