Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU, for Utopia Leisure, on the site of a possible extension to this 17th century house (which may be on the site of an earlier medieval property). The results were inconclusive. Only post-medieval and modern features were revealed, but these could have obliterated earlier evidence.

Evaluation by S Farid of PCA, for Laing Homes Ltd, in advance of redevelopment. Apart from modern drainage features, no archaeological deposits or features were identified.

Evaluation by D Divers of PCA, on behalf of Barratt Southern Counties, on part of the former hospital’s grounds in advance of residential redevelopment. In one area of the site, the natural was found to have been truncated by terracing. Some finds of interest were recovered; a flint blade and waste flake, two abraded sherds of 1st century Roman pottery, and several fragments of medieval roof tile, but no features were revealed.

Watching brief by R Poulton and S Hind of SCAU, for Sutton & East Surrey Water Company, on the groundworks associated with the construction of a water pipeline between Buckland and Lower Kingswood. No features of archaeological significance were revealed. However, a small amount of worked flints was recovered, including some of probable Mesolithic or Neolithic date.

Survey and restoration programme by SIHG, on behalf of the Surrey Wildlife Trust, as part of a management programme and in anticipation of the granting of Scheduled Ancient Monument Status by English Heritage.

Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU, for Westminster Healthcare Ltd, on the site of the former Farmfield Hospital. Foundations associated with the former hospital buildings were seen, but no features or finds of archaeological interest were revealed.

Dendrochronolgy of timbers from three buildings at this farm (the house, the South Barn and the East Barn) was carried out by M C Bridge, for the Ancient Monuments Laboratory. The trees for the primary base-cruck of the house were felled in AD 1351; oaks used in a second range were most likely felled in the period AD 1488-1507. These were contemporaneous with the East Barn (AD 1484-1491). New framing, incorporating a large entrance door, was added to the east side of the house from trees probably felled in AD 1574-1603; trees for a rear range were felled in AD 1639.

Watching brief carried out by R Poulton of SCAU, for the City of London Freemen’s School, revealed no features and finds of archaeological interest. This followed an evaluation conducted in 1997 which produced similarly negative results.

Evaluation by D Divers of PCA, for Laing Homes South Thames, in advance of residential development of a site on the projected route of the branch road from Stane Street to the Ashtead villa. The trench revealed modern deposits overlying the London Clay and no features or finds of archaeological interest.

Survey of the archaeological and historic landscape of the Downs by C Currie of CKC Archaeology, for SCC and SyAS, with reference to them being proposed as Areas of Historic Landscape. The work is ongoing and is being carried out as part of the Community Archaeological Programme. A number of archaeological features were discovered and recorded including a group of possible Bronze Age barrows in an area recently cleared of woodland cover, and a deserted medieval hamlet formerly known as Poneshurst.