Surrey Archaeological Society

Watching brief by N Randall of SCAU on the site where the principal discoveries of excavations in 1967, 1973, 1986 and 2003 had been a burial ground and an associated settlement occupied between the 6th and 12th centuries AD. Three of the six construction trenches were located in previously excavated areas, and one trench revealed a linear feature containing prehistoric, Roman and Saxon pottery which is most likely a continuation of a ditch revealed in 1973.

Soil stripping, mapping and sampling by I Howell of MOLA. The work comprised Phase I of the mitigation programme necessitated by the results of the evaluation in 2008. The remains of 25 urned cremations of probable Late Iron Age/Early Roman date were revealed in a cluster, with an additional seven features interpreted as un-urned cremations of a similar period. A further four discrete features separated from the main cluster were thought to be un-urned cremations, and a single long bone within another feature was tentatively identified as a possible inhumation burial.

Evaluation by L Capon of AOC prior to residential redevelopment. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed.

Watching brief by N Randall of SCAU during redevelopment for residential conversion of barns, with a programme of historic building undertaken by C Armitage in conjunction with SCAU, between 2007 and 2010. The farm is located immediately north of the 12th or 13th century Westhumble Chapel.

Evaluation by N Randall of SCAU on a site adjoining the former Goblin Works Saxon cemetery excavated in 1985. The evaluation revealed two modern pits, one of which contained a large quantity of coloured glass sherds which may have been discarded from a workshop related to the adjoining Milner House, formerly owned by the Ex-Service Welfare Society.

Evaluation by A Margetts of ASE revealed two gulleys and a pit or ditch terminus of prehistoric date that may be part of an enclosure or field-system possibly related to prehistoric settlement known from the wider area. A probable post-medieval linear feature, a probable ditch of 16th to 18th century date, and made ground deposits in many of the trenches, may represent evidence of landscaping during the laying out the grounds surrounding the former school building. Further work suggested.

Evaluation by T Munnery of SCAU revealed a prehistoric (probably late Neolithic or Bronze Age) pit, pottery of Iron Age date, and a section of an inhumation containing the lower half of a human skeleton of Saxon date. The surface of a possible linear feature was noted to be cut by the inhumation. The feature, and the majority of the inhumation were not excavated, but a whetstone and iron knife lying close to the skeleton pelvis were removed. A subsequent excavation revealed a total of 18 inhumations.

Ground radar survey undertaken Cobham Technical Services to inform decisions on where to re-inter the post-medieval human skeletal remains recovered during the investigation carried out in advance of the construction of the new vestry by PCA in 2009. Six areas within the churchyard were targeted, with five of these producing evidence of anomalies suggestive of either burials or a drain. The results of the survey indicated one area, close to the Lych gate, was archaeologically empty.

Evaluation by N Randall of SCAU revealed the line of a cinder track of probable 19th century date, but no finds or features of significant archaeological interest.