Surrey Archaeological Society

Site watching by D G Bird for SCC of Conoco topsoil stripping; traces of post-medieval disturbances were obviously related to cottages shown on the Tithe Award map. A scatter of medieval pottery was also recovered.

Reported by J D Matthews that walking of the area had recovered RB pottery and tile and medieval pottery.

Excavation by A Skelton to test approximately circular earthwork feature (about 200m in diameter) recognised on aerial photographs. The bank and ditch were best visible across the neck of the spur and were sectioned there. The ditch was found to be about 2m deep and 4m wide at the top with LBA pottery in the primary fill and RB late 3rd-4th century material in the upper fill. A trench in the interior produced large amounts of burnt flint, waste flakes and more LBA pottery.

Third season of excavation by R J Poulton for SCC and British Industrial Sand. Survey and excavation identified a broad ditch possibly continuing around the medieval and later building complex, where a cellar nearly 2m deep was located. Resistivity survey indicated further archaeological features. The site is suggested as one of two chief messuages in Bletchingley in the late medieval period, but probably having Saxo-Norman origins. (208)

Continuation of excavation and survey by M Russell for BSAG, in trenches near the standing gatehouse, produced archaeological evidence supporting the documentary evidence for a double courtyard house of late 15th to early 16th century date, mostly demolished in the 17th century. Excavation within and behind the gatehouse produced evidence for occupation from at least the 13th century. (206)

Report provided details of previous excavations by D J Turner. Parts of the defences were sectioned and the principal masonry building within the inner ward was examined. The original defences were a D-shaped ringwork approximately 80 x 55m within a kidney shaped outer ward or bailey. The massive ditch and bank around the inner ward were sectioned. Work on the masonry building showed that it measured-23.27 x 24.64m with square stair turrets at NW and SE corners. Internal features included possible supports for first floor hearths.

Trial excavation by G H Cole for Surrey Heath Group of SyAS of an apparent hilltop ditched enclosure noted on aerial photographs produced no evidence to explain either the marks or a positive resistivity survey. In site observation during development, Mesolithic flakes and cores, medieval and later coins and pottery were found.

Two seasons of excavation by G H Cole for Surrey Heath Group of SyAS. The first located extensive probably late IA to early RB bronze and iron slag and related deposits, a large IA ditch, a 3rd century RB timber framed structure, a post-4th century palisade and plank-formed building and various later RB ditches. Some 5.4m of the timber sole plate of the 3rd century building survived as charcoal. (208)

Final phase of excavation by G H Cole for Surrey Heath Group of SyAS located the outfall of an early 17th century wooden water supply pipe partly excavated in 1983. It is thought to have supplied an artificial pond for watering animals. Possibly Mesolithic flint flakes, a scattering of abraded 3rd/4th century RB pottery and various 13th-14th century ditches and other features were also recorded. (212)

Excavation by R J Poulton for SCC in advance of building work. A flint scatter and a Mesolithic tranchet axe indicated prehistoric activity in the area, and RB pottery and tile suggested a nearby site, whose whereabouts were possibly identified by a resistivity survey. The excavation produced a substantial early Saxon midden deposit, with much bone and pottery, the latter of a number of different types. There were also late Saxon ditches parallel to previous discoveries, and a scatter of medieval pottery. (216)