Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by R James and J Russell of ASE, on behalf of Wates Built Homes, in advance of residential redevelopment. The only find of interest was a fragment of a Mesolithic backed blade, all other finds and features were 18th to 19th century when the site was in agricultural use. A geological test-pit was excavated under the supervision of Dr Martin Bates. Two episodes of colluviation were noted; the uppermost following deforestation of the higher land to the south in the later Holocene; the lower deposit an earlier Holocene or late Pleistocene period of colluviation.

A watching brief was maintained by J Stevenson of SCAU, for Hazelwood School, during the groundworks for the construction of a new teaching block. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed, the site having probably been levelled at some time in the past. The works did record the apparent interface between the Wealden Clay and Atherfield Clay geological beds, and an area of river gravels/alluvium.

A watching brief was maintained by J Perry of SutAS, for Elf Oil UK Ltd, in advance of partial rebuilding and refurbishing the existing service station on the site. Documentery and geotechnical evidence indicates that the site lies on part of the mill pond of Upper Mill, which could be one of two mills in the area mentioned in Domesday. The work is ongoing but has not revealed anything of archaeological interest as yet.

Survey of the archaeological and historic landscape around Chelsham by C Currie of CKC Archaeology, for SCC and SyAS, with reference to them being proposed as Areas of Historic Landscape Value. The work is ongoing and is being carried out as part of the Community Archaeological Programme. The survey is still at an early stage, but an initial scan has revealed a number of sites of archaeological interest including three enclosures thought to be of medieval date. (Link to vol 1 below. Link to vol 2 - doi: 10.5284/1006444

Watching brief by J D Matthews of BSAG, during the construction of an extension to the pub revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by R Poulton of SCAU, for Hepworth Minerals and Chemicals Ltd, on an area proposed for mineral extraction. No significant finds or features were revealed, although previous work nearby in 1995 had produced material of predominantly prehistoric date.

A watching brief was maintained by M Dover of SCAU, for Southwark DAC. The unrendered greensand stone fabric of the church wall was exposed, together with the foundations for four buttresses. One of these appeared to be contemporary with the construction of the church, with the two others being later brick built features. The date of the fourth buttress was unclear, but possibly thought to be a rebuild or repair of an original feature.

Watching brief by J Stevenson of SCAU, for Archean Energy (U.K.) Ltd, on groundworks associated with the exploratory work for a well site on land adjacent to the sewage works. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed.

A watching brief was maintained by J Stevenson of SCAU, for the church, on groundworks associated with the construction of a new drain and toilets. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed. No inhumations were disturbed and no stray finds or human bones were recovered from removed spoil.

Evaluation by R Poulton of SCAU, for Hepworth Minerals and Chemicals Ltd, on an area permitted for mineral extraction. Much of the site was found to have been disturbed previously, reducing the likelihood of archaeological remains surviving. Only one possible archaeological feature, a ditch containing no dating evidence, was revealed.