Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU for Hepworth Minerals & Chemicals Ltd, of two areas proposed for mineral extraction, following on from fieldwalking of one of the areas (centred TQ 333 517). The fieldwalking exercise recovered medieval and post-medieval material, as well as a quantity of prehistoric flint. Evaluation of this area recovered a few more stray finds and revealed the remains of a substantial hearth or kiln apparently of post-medieval date, a sand quarry of post-medieval date, and a couple of ditches and a posthole that contained prehistoric material.

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU for Reality Homes, of a site within the village and known to have been occupied by almshouses in the 19th century, found no trace of former buildings.

A watching brief by S Dyer of SCAU for Churchod & Co identified the remains of a kiln of unknown purpose close to the street frontage. The upper part of the kiln contained bricks of 18th or 19th century date. (289)

A watching brief by S Dyer of SCAU for Allen Edwards Ltd, during groundworks for a new golf course, recorded no features or finds of archaeological interest. Trial trenching on the former farm site (SU 917 638) found no evidence for earlier buildings, although the farm is thought to have originated in the medieval period. (289)

Further excavation by G Cole for SHAHT. Additional features associated with the post-medieval tanning yard were recorded, as well as a number of features, including a possible cremation of Roman date. (290, 301)

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU for SCC’s Resources Dept, of land for residential development in an area where several crop marks have been recorded. Undisturbed stratigraphy was recorded, but no features or finds of archaeological interest were found.

Evaluation and subsequent excavation by G Hayman of SCAU for SCC’s Resources Dept. Ditches or gullies forming a D-shaped enclosure were identified, within which were a number of postholes and stakeholes and a hearth. Most of the features produced late 12th or early 13th century pottery. It seems likely that the enclosure is related to the nearby earthwork known as Caesar’s Camp which has been interpreted as a medieval stock enclosure. (293; see report in SyAC 94, 1-52)

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU for SCC’s Resources Dept, in advance of the construction of a new sports hall. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed by this evaluation.

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU for Conoco Ltd of the site of a proposed petrol filling station. Ancient soil horizons were found beneath modern levels, containing prehistoric, Roman and medieval material, indicating activity of all these periods in the vicinity. Several features were also recorded: a ditch of late 3rd to 4th century date; a ditch of late 13th century date; an undated ditch of some antiquity. No further features were noted during a subsequent watching brief on the redevelopment.

Evaluation by P Jones of SCAU for the Metropolitan Police’s Property Services Department, in advance of the construction of a new police station. The site lies outside the known Roman town at Staines. The evaluation revealed several small ditches, none of which could be securely dated. Of greater interest were the number of flint pot-boilers recovered from the brickearth deposits in one of the trenches.