Surrey Archaeological Society

Excavation by J McKinley of Wessex, for MEPC UK Ltd, in advance of redevelopment. The largest feature revealed was a substantial channel at the northern end of the area, presumably originally water-filled, that went out of use before the Roman period and was then infilled with rubbish. A fragment of prehistoric pottery recovered adjacent to this channel hints at earlier occupation on, or in the vicinity of the site. A variety of features of mostly Roman date, but some likely to be medieval, were recorded on the site.

Evaluation by K Ritchie of Wessex, for MEPC UK Ltd, revealed approximately two metres of garden soil sealing the truncated remains of three intercutting ditches running parallel to and 30 metres north of the High Street. Finds recovered from the ditch fills date the features to the first or second centuries AD. The ditches are thought to represent boundaries separating the street frontage settlement and near backland activity on the south of the gravel island, from the less intensively occupied far backland margins to the north.

Analysis of a borehole survey by Wessex in order to assist with the mitigation strategy for excavation of the Tilly’s Lane West site. This provided information on the depths of archaeological and natural deposits, and reaffirmed the existing model for the disposition of natural gravel in the vicinity.

Watching brief by P Jones and J Robertson of SCAU, for Wizard Inns, during work on an extension and improvements to the Blue Anchor. The nature of the foundation trenches, 3m deep and 0.85m wide, meant that they were unsuitable for proper archaeological recording to take place. Pottery of Roman (late 1st - 2nd century) date and a small, possibly, Roman coin, as well as late medieval (15th century) pottery, animal bone and tile, were recovered from the spoil heap.

A watching brief was maintained by G Pattison and J Stevenson of SCAU, for SCC, during the construction of a temporary bridge. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed, although the works were considered to be too limited to have reached possibly meaningful archaeological levels

Evaluation and watching brief by J Stevenson of SCAU, on behalf of the church, of part of the site for a proposed extension. The trenches were restricted to the area outside the churchyard; they revealed considerable disturbance, presumed to represent landscaping in the 19th century. The watching brief on remedial works on the east end of the Chancel revealed the foundations to be constructed from mortared chalk rubble, sitting on the natural gravel, with no obvious signs of earlier structural remains. A number of both articulated and disarticulated human remains were also revealed.

Evaluation and excavation by G Hayman of SCAU of Phase 7 of this mineral extraction site, for Greenham Construction Materials Ltd, revealed a variety of features; the quantity of finds associated with many of these is indicative of settlement activity. Most features were revealed on an area of marginally higher ground. They include a very large ditch, possibly forming an enclosure around a settlement. The finds appear to be of Bronze Age date and probably relate to the settlement of that date found in previous phases (4E and 6B).

Evaluation by J Lovell of Wessex, for Frogmore Developments Ltd, revealed a truncated ditch of probably mid to late Iron Age date, and a second, undated ditch. A number of residual flints of Neolithic to Bronze Age date were also recovered.

Evaluation by SutAS, for the British Marine Industries Federation, of land proposed for office development revealed alluvial silts and peats, which were sampled for palaeo-environmental analysis. Analysis by ArchaeoScope Consulting indicates that sedimentation commenced prior to 7000 BC (early Holocene/Mesolithic). The deposits represent the fill of abandoned river channels, probably being actively created and infilled during a period of at least a thousand years in the early Holocene.

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU, for RAC Motoring Services Ltd, on the site of RAC’s proposed new headquarters. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed and the four trenches excavated confirmed that the site had been substantially truncated