Surrey Archaeological Society

Watching brief carried out by N Marples and R Poulton of SCAU, for Lampard & Partners, during redevelopment. Much of the site was found to have been damaged or disturbed by modern building works, but two features of possible interest were observed. One was a length of chalk walling forming part of a basement, the other a pit; both are likely to be post-medieval in date.

Excavation and a subsequent watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU, for Boots Properties PLC, as part of the construction of a new extension on this site. The earliest features identified on the site were a series of pits filled with late 12th or early 13th century debris, presumably relating to buildings fronting the High Street. In the late 13th or 14th century, buildings were constructed along the then much narrower alley (now known as Swan Lane). The substantial chalk foundations revealed suggest these buildings were well built and of at least two-storeys.

Evaluation by S Foreman of OAU, for Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners, on land to be redeveloped as offices. A large degree of truncation was noted across the site, probably related to the construction of the brewery buildings formerly on this site. A single pit containing 12th century pottery was revealed at a low level.

Watching brief by N Shaikhley of SCAU, for Green Property Ltd, revealed no significant finds or features.

Watching brief carried out by M Dover of SCAU, for M J Gleeson Group PLC, on the site of a new building. Although a large degree of disturbance was noted across the site, a layer of tiles mortared together was discovered. This may have formed part of a foundation for the internal wall of an earlier building. No date could be ascribed to this feature, although it was thought to be medieval or later in date.

A watching brief was maintained by C Currie of CKC Archaeology on repair work to this lock on the Godalming Navigation, for the National Trust. Early, possibly original, brickwork was revealed around the gates of the lock. The southern cill was of brick with stone blocks on the outward edge, possibly to act as protection; the northern cill was of wood, covered by modern concrete. The lock chamber itself is now concrete, but was originally of timber. (330)

Evaluation by R Poulton of SCAU, for SCC, on land to be developed into a park and ride carpark. The work revealed undisturbed soils overlying ancient alluvium over natural gravels. The only features revealed were two recent ditches.

Evaluation by SutAS, for Amec Developments Ltd, in advance of redevelopment for offices. The site was found to have remained little used until the modern period; presumably because it was too low lying, and therefore wet, to be anything other than marginal land.

Excavation by R Poulton of SCAU, for the House of Fraser, revealed no significant finds or features.

Survey carried out by SIHG at the request of Guildford Museum prior to demolition of the structure. The store was built at the beginning of World War II for emergency food storage. A freezer wind tunnel later installed at the site was used to simulate flight into supercooled liquid droplets and ice crystals, and aircraft tested in this way included the Airbus and Concorde.