Surrey Archaeological Society

A watching brief by the GMVEU on the redevelopment of the school site revealed a considerable quantity of mainly early 17th century Border Ware, including wasters and kiln furniture. Small quantities of medieval whiteware and late 17th/18th century Red Border Ware were also recovered. A kiln site clearly lies in the vicinity. (307)

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU, for Charles Church South East, in advance of residential redevelopment. A large quantity of late 14th to 15th century whiteware pottery, including wasters, was recovered, suggesting a kiln site in the vicinity. (314)

A watching brief was maintained by G Pattison of SCAU, for Thames Water Utilities, on the works for a new pipeline. A concentration of late medieval pottery was identified at the eastern end of the route, close to South Lane, presumably indicating the presence of a kiln in the vicinity.

Evaluation by J Wright of Wessex, for Barratt Southern Counties, of a site proposed for residential development revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest. A considerable depth of alluvial sands overlay the natural gravel, but no palaeo-landsurfaces were revealed sealed by or within these.

Report by R W Williams on the excavation of a limekiln built into the western face of this chalkpit, by volunteers for the Surrey Wildlife Trust. It is intended that the excavated kiln should become a bat habitat. (SIHG 92)

Evaluation by R Poulton of SCAU, on behalf of A&J Bull (Southern) Ltd, of an area to be mineral extracted, revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest. (321)

Evaluation by A Gollop of PCA of a site proposed for residential development, for Crest Homes, revealed a ploughsoil below modern makeup levels. The ploughsoil contained a couple of sherds of medieval pottery and may represent agricultural activity on the site from the medieval period onwards. No earlier archaeological features or finds were revealed.

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU, for Pioneer Concrete Holdings PLC, of land proposed for a service station, revealed no features of archaeological interest and one retouched flint flake. The peaty nature of the soil suggests the area may have been unattractive for use because it was prone to waterlogging.

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU followed a geophysical survey by the Bartlett-Clark Consultancy, which had revealed a number of anomalies; both pieces of work were carried out for Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, who want additional information with which to interpret the palace site. Walls between the Privy Garden and the Wilderness were revealed, as were walls between the Orchard, the Wilderness and the Plain. A pit containing 12th-13th century pottery was revealed in one trial trench, probably associated with the settlement of Cuddington, removed c.1538 when Nonsuch Palace was built.

Examination of a series of tunnels below this road was carried out by members of Subterranea Britannica, at the request of SCC’s County Roads Group. The tunnels are almost certainly service tunnels associated with the now demolished Ewell House and probably date to the late 17th or early 18th centuries. Some of the tunnels are lined with brick, others are just left as the sandstone they have been cut through. Later modification included ornamentation of some of the tunnels and use as a WWII air-raid shelter.