Surrey Archaeological Society

Excavation by SHAHT, under the direction of G Cole, to the rear of 36-40 High Street. The earliest feature revealed was a wide flat-bottomed ditch which may have been one of the fish ponds known to have existed on the site from documentary records. Sherds of Coarse Border Ware vessels of 14th century date were recovered from the base of the ditch; from the middle of the 16th century the ditch was infilled by rubbish. To the north-west of the ditch was a flint cobbled surface; tothe south east of the ditch was evidence for a post-constructed building with a trampled sand and clay floor.

Report on a wall painting revealed during renovation works. The paintings were recorded by G Pattison of SCAU and P Gray of SyAS. The building itself appears to be 14th century in origin, with a 16th century rebuild. The paintings were revealed on two walls of a downstairs room and probably represent 16th and 17th century decoration, possibly relating to the building’s use as an inn. (317, 321)

An evaluation by H Knight of MoLAS, for Sandville Properties, in advance of redevelopment, revealed a number of features, mostly gulleys and pits, which were undated but thought to be prehistoric and probably associated with the field system identified at the adjoining Cargo Point site. In addition, brick structures and pits of 18th century date, associated with the settlement of West Bedfont, were identified.

Evaluation by N Elsden of MoLAS, for Lynton plc and Birse Construction, of a site proposed for redevelopment, revealed a number of features thought to indicate the remains of a prehistoric field system. Excavation and a watching brief on the development was subsequently carried out by H Knight of MoLAS. At least two phases of Middle Bronze Age activity were recorded, relating to the division of the area into fields. Subsequently, in the medieval period, the area was again divided into fields.

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU, for Airways Housing Society Ltd, in advance of residential development in the grounds of this 17th century building. A number of ditches were identified, of both Roman and early medieval (11th-12th century) date. The recovery of a number of pieces of struck and burnt flint also suggests prehistoric activity. A subsequent watching brief on construction revealed little more. (314, 321)

A watching brief was carried out by TVAS on the construction of a sports ground and pavilion, for Ashford Sports Club Ltd, in an area where a ring ditch has been noted on aerial photos. Most of the groundworks were shallow, the limited deeper works revealed only levels of modern dumping. A few pieces of struck flint were recovered during the watching brief. (319)

A watching brief by L Pollinger of TVAS was carried out on a residential development by Fairclough Homes Ltd., in an area partly evaluated by SCAU in 1994. No features or finds of archaeological interest were noted. (319)

Evaluation involving a geophysical survey and trial trenching was carried out on this prospective mineral site, by the Bartlett-Clark Consultancy and G Hayman of SCAU respectively, for Henry Streeter (Sand & Ballast). This work revealed a scatter of prehistoric features across the site and a concentration of features of Roman date indicating settlement, probably a small farmstead, at the southern end of the site. (321)

Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU, for Berkley Hambro & Conlyon Investments, in advance of redevelopment of this site. Some areas were found to have been previously disturbed, but a spread of gravel containing sherds of Roman pottery and tile was tentatively identified as a track surface of that date. (314)

Excavation by J Robertson of SCAU for the Metropolitan Police Service followed on from evaluation in 1995; the site for the new police station lies on the fringes of the Roman and later settlement of Staines. The excavation revealed a number of ditches that had been cut parallel to the roadline.