Surrey Archaeological Society

Excavation by N Riall for Waverley Borough Council, MSC and Arundel' House Securities Ltd in advance of redevelopment. A trench on the floodplain terrace produced evidence consistent with use for agriculture in the 12th and 13th centuries. Another nearer the street frontage produced a sequence of features from the 12th century or earlier to the mid 20th century. The main features were a section of the town ditch and a double flued updraught tile kiln. The ditch lay about 45m south of and parallel to the main east–west street, the Borough.

Site tested by M Reid for Waverley Borough Council and MSC without result.

Trial excavation by K D Graham for FDMS in advance of redevelopment. Pottery from the 13th century onwards was found, but no features; it was probably therefore domestic rubbish. One fragment of RB pottery, possibly RB tile and several flint flakes were also found. (See report in this volume on Kingham's/Lion & Lamb sites.)

Geophysical survey by R J Poulton for SCC and Titsey Estate of future extension to the sandpit produced negative results. The line of the parish boundary, now unmarked, was sectioned and found to be followed by a small undated ditch. (208)

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)