Surrey Archaeological Society

Observation of redevelopment and salvage excavation by J Boas for Guildford Museum recorded a general scatter of post-medieval pottery and two features cut into the natural chalk. The first was a large irregular pit constructed of rough chalk blocks, thought likely to be a cess pit in the stable area of the Three Tuns Inn. It contained a large amount of material dated to 1690-1720, including many more or less complete vessels and a great number of high class goblets. The second feature was a well which contained a large group of medieval pottery provisionally dated 1175-1250. (258).

Work continued on the research/training excavation by R J Poulton for SCAU, SyAS, the Society of Antiquaries and others. The excavation of a section of the bailey ditch was completed. A well-preserved tile kiln was uncovered, its last firing archaeomagnetically dated to AD 1220-1270 at the 95% confidence level. Presumably the tiles produced were used in roofing the earliest palace buildings. (262; 266; see Guildford Castle monograph)

Observation of redevelopment by J Boas for Guildford Museum led to the recording of a Saxo-Norman pit.

Noted by J Austin that he recovered over 100 small sherds of RB pottery from the site before the excavation noted in the last Collections (vol 81).

Evaluation of part of proposed route of the A31 Runfold Diversion and Blackwater Valley Route by G N Hayman for SCAU and SCC (County Engineer's department). One large ditch containing a few fragments of 3rd or 4th century AD pottery and four undated gullies were uncovered.

Excavation by J Harte and H Waterhouse for Bourne Hall Museum and NAS [now EEHAS] in the bed of the lake which had become dry. Preliminary examination in 1990 produced 38 1st to 3rd century Roman coins from one sector. A trench indicated that dredging had removed most material above the natural Thanet Sand. Gravel-filled pockets in the sand were however found to contain animal bones and IA, RB or Saxon pottery. Various walls, mostly presumably earlier retaining walls for the lake bank, were also noted. (265). It may be suggested that the Roman coins were offerings at the original spring.

Fieldwalking in advance of construction of the golf course was carried out by P M G Jones of SCAU for O & J House Ltd. Some prehistoric flints were recovered, but the only evidence for occupation was two concentrations of building debris, which could be associated with buildings shown on a 17th century plan of the Pyrford estate.

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)