Surrey Archaeological Society

A watching brief by D W Williams of work to this property, which cuts into the slope below the castle. Subsidence resulted in the destruction of a 19th century brick baking oven and a stone and brick revetment, before recording could take place, as well as the rear wall of this 16th-17th century building. Subsequent observation revealed a buried soil layer, which contained early Mesolithic flint blades and 13th century pottery, that had been disturbed by excavation, presumably for sand, at some point in the 13th century.

Evaluation by N Shaikhley of SCAU, for Mr Westwood, partly within the standing building, which is 16th century, in advance of building works. One trench to the rear of the building revealed a pit containing medieval pottery; within the building a rammed chalk floor, presumed to relate to the original occupation of the building, was revealed. A subsequent watching brief recorded little of archaeological interest. (314)

A survey of the barrow was carried out by K Pringle for BHRG and SyAS. Examination of the section revealed by the removal of a retaining wall constructed c.1924 revealed no evidence for turf lines. A number of struck flints were recovered from the backfill of the retaining wall and one flake was recovered during the cleaning of the section. Further examination of the barrow revealed that a substantial air raid shelter had been constructed within it. (320)

Fieldwalking by P Harp of the BHRG has recorded a quantity of flints, mostly of Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age date; the flints are mostly scrapers, awls and secondary flakes. Some Mesolithic flints have also been recovered, including a blunted-back microlith and a tranchet axe. (314

Evaluation and excavation by J Saunders of TVAS, for Linden Homes, of land to be residentially developed. A number of prehistoric flints were recovered, but the earliest features recorded date to the 1st - mid 2nd centuries AD and probably represent part of a field system. Also present was a pit containing mid-late 2nd century pottery, most of which was typical of a low status rural settlement. Two post-hole sized features, probably both Roman, contained cremated bone, analysis of which suggests they were sheep/goat.

Evaluation by SCAU on behalf of Portland Properties Ltd of part of an area of the grounds to be redeveloped. Much of the area was found to have been disturbed. Elsewhere no finds of archaeological interest were made and only one feature, itself of uncertain significance, was identified. (321)

A watching brief by N Shaikhley of SCAU was carried out during the construction of a car park in the vicinity of the site of St Leonard’s Chapel, for Kennedy & Partners. A few shallow features were revealed following topsoil stripping, but none contained datable material.

Evaluation by SutAS, for Linden Homes South-East Ltd, of an area to be redeveloped found no features of archaeological interest. A number of finds of struck and burnt flint recovered are likely to have derived from upslope, indicating prehistoric activity in the vicinity of, but not on, the development site. (311)

Observation by S Dyer, for SyAS, of disturbance caused by the excavation of a series of trenches for an irrigation system on the golf course, adjacent to the Roman villa. North of the villa site a concentration of Romano-British tile was observed but these may have been redeposited previously, to infill a hollow of some kind. Elsewhere a few sherds of greyware pottery were recovered. The disturbance was also observed by the BHRG who collected a quantity of Roman pottery, mainly 3rd century greywares, and also noted the concentration of tegula and imbrex tiles. (313)