Surrey Archaeological Society

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.

Evaluation by T Munnery of SCAU revealed that parts of the site had been subject to modern disturbance and possible medieval terracing and reduction, but all of the four trenches yielded finds of archaeological interest and two of the trenches revealed archaeological features of Mesolithic, medieval and post-medieval date. The Mesolithic feature, a pit, and a nearby spread of flintwork of similar date, may represent a small residue of on site Mesolithic hunter-gatherer activity, possibly associated with a hearth.

Evaluation by R Humphrey of PCA revealed anomalies representing either natural variations in the natural clay or areas of increased manganese panning, two possible tree-bowl type features, late post-medieval field drains, but no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by D Hart of ASE revealed an undated pit and ditch terminus, and a possibly related ditch of probable medieval date in the west of the site. A layer of colluvial material containing prehistoric pottery was recorded in the eastern part of the site.

A programme of historic building recording, evaluation, and a watching brief during the reduction of floor levels within the farmhouse, at Lowerhouse Farm by L Capon of AOC. The farmhouse is dated by a render plaque to 1525, but shows many phases of repair and extension. The earliest parts of the farmhouse are fully timber-framed, and reveal the building to have started as a Hall House, the hall lying north of a two-storey, four room block.