Surrey Archaeological Society

An archaeological investigation of the foundations of the standing remains of the palace was carried out by Graham Hayman of SCAU for Woking Borough Council. Detailed information on the state of the foundations was needed as part of a programme of repair and conservation of the remains. The work indicated there is a complex stratigraphy indicating various building stages preserved on the site. The foundations of the present walls were built to a substantial depth and appeared in good condition. The foundations were made of a variety of materials including brick, chalk blocks and flint

Monitoring of soil stripping for golf course construction was carried out by S P Dyer for SCAU and New Lane Leisure Ltd. Only one struck flint was found. (279)

Evaluation trial trenching (future site of Goldsworth County Primary School) by S P Dyer for SCAU and SCC did not locate anything of archaeological interest. (279)

Evaluation trial trenching by S P Dyer for SCAU and Wimpey Construction Ltd revealed nothing of archaeological interest. The presence of a peat deposit was noted, overlying the Bagshot Beds. (278)

Evaluation trial trenching by S P Dyer for SCAU and J Sainsbury PLC did not locate anything of archaeological interest. (282)

Evaluation trial trenching by Graham Hayman and S P Dyer for SCAU and Hunting Gate Homes Ltd did not locate anything of archaeological interest. (282)

A watching brief on topsoil stripping during construction of the golf course was carried out by Rob Poulton of SCAU for BMP Building Ltd. No archaeological features and only a few pieces of worked flint of Mesolithic or Neolithic date were observed.

Report by Greta Turner on progress on the clearance and study of the scheduled moated site. It is suggested that the small island east of the main island was never part of a larger island, later split, but was just a retaining bank to help control the run-off from the moat. A detailed survey drawing prepared by the RCHME is presented. A later report notes the completion of restoration and ‘opening’ of the site, with a reconstruction drawing. (267; 284; see report in SyAC 87, 127-145)

Report by S P Dyer of initial results of historic landscape survey carried out for SCC, SyAS and the National Trust. The survey had located the boundary bank between Godalming and Farnham hundreds, medieval and Tudor field systems and related building platforms, various holloways and other tracks, property boundaries and woodland banks, saw pits and charcoal burning hearths and earthworks attributed to the Canadian Army in the Second World War.

Evaluation by trial trenching of an area to be used as a borrow pit for the Blackwater Valley Route, by Graham Hayman of SCAU for Costain, found no archaeological features. The presence of peat over virtually the whole of the site may indicate that the area is prone to waterlogging and was therefore unattractive to settlement.