Surrey Archaeological Society

A watching brief was carried out by R Poulton of SCAU, for Waverley Borough Council, on the development of the site of the former mill pond for a leisure centre. Modern infill was found to extend to a depth of 4 metres, below which was sealed a grey black silty clay, presumably representing silting of the pond. (321)

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU, for R Stilgoe, of an area proposed for an extension to the lake created in 1994, when a watching brief recorded a pit containing Late Iron Age/Romano-British pottery. The evaluation confirmed that the London-Lewes Roman Road runs only about 15 metres west of the alignment indicated by the Ordnance Survey. The road has clearly suffered damage since it fell out of use, probably as a result of ploughing. There was no sign of the expected side ditches. Numerous finds were recovered, indicating occupation in the near vicinity during the Roman period.

A programme of geophysical survey and trial excavation by M Davies and the BSAG around the site of the known villa identified a second ‘twin’ villa and two other buildings - one certainly Roman, and the other probably so. The two villas were separated by a stream, and an extensive area of surfacing seems to have been laid on the wetter ground between the two villas. (315)

A watching brief was kept on part of this residential development by N Shaikhley of SCAU for Direct Build Services. No features or finds of archaeological interest were noted.

Evaluation by R James of ASE for Wates Built Homes of land proposed for residential development. Despite a programme of test pitting, in addition to trial trenching, very little artefactual material was recovered, the majority of which was post-medieval. A lynchet crossing the site was sectioned and found to have 18th century pottery at its base. The site is therefore likely to have been enclosed for agricultural purposes quite late.

Continuation of evaluation at this site by SutAS, for Linden Homes, revealed no features of archaeological interest - the only find of interest was a microlith. (311)

A watching brief by D Saich of SCC on the construction of new stables revealed a very truncated pit or ditch densely packed with brick, tile, animal bone, oyster shells and occasional pieces of glass. The handmade bricks and flat tiles suggest they may date as early as the 16th century. (304)

Observation of geotechnical trial pits by D Tyler of AOC, for the school, in an area of playing fields proposed for new buildings, revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest, although the site appeared relatively undisturbed.

Evaluation by SutAS of land on the edge of the village, in advance of residential development, for Linden Homes (south east) Ltd. No archaeological features or finds earlier than 19th century were found.

A watching brief by J Saunders of TVAS was maintained on the construction of a replacement hall and associated works. The foundation trenches for the hall were too shallow to affect any archaeological deposits. A service trench cut through the boundary bank to the south; no dating evidence for the bank’s construction was recovered and no trace of an associated ditch was seen. (319)