Surrey Archaeological Society

A watching brief on the redevelopment of this site was maintained by SCAU, for Beezer Homes, following on from the evaluation by TVAS 1996. The conditions of the watching brief were not ideal but seemed to confirm the results of the earlier evaluation that no evidence of a former moat around the manor house survives.

Evaluation by S Ford of TVAS, for St James’ Homes, of the only area of this redevelopment site apparently undisturbed. The results confirmed that the area tested had been largely undisturbed, but little of archaeological interest was revealed. One late post-medieval ditch was recorded and a few pieces of pottery were recovered, including a sherd from a late Medieval pitcher and a sherd from a 12th/13th century cooking pot. A rim sherd from a late 2nd to 3rd century Roman pot was also recovered.

Evaluation by G Brown of PCA, for Barratt Southern Counties, in advance of residential development, revealed only a linear feature containing brick fragments of post-medieval date.

Survey of the historical landscape of Claremont Park and its environs by C Currie of CKC Archaeology for the National Trust. The survey looked at both the development of the Claremont estate from the early 18th century, and the landscape of the area before this period. The estate is sited on sandy soils on marginal land on the northern edge of Esher Common. Early colonisation of the site would have been likely because of the initial ease of cultivation, but rapid leaching of the soils probably led to its abandonment.

Evaluation by K Ritchie of Wessex, for Frogmore Developments Ltd, in advance of redevelopment, revealed extensive modern disturbance and no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU, for Burhill Estates, of land to be developed for a golf course. The results indicated surprisingly little evidence for previous activity in this area, but the water table was found to be high and the soil not well drained. A few features of possible archaeological interest were revealed; these are presumed to be former field boundaries, but no evidence was recovered from which to date them. A resultant watching brief conducted by R Poulton identified four ditches, only one of which was thought to be of ancient origin.

Evaluation by R Poulton of SCAU, for Wilcon Homes, in advance of redevelopment. No features or finds of archaeological interest were revealed.

Evaluation and watching brief by J Stevenson and G Hayman of SCAU, for A Mosseri, in advance of residential development, revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest although the site lies within the Iron Age hillfort. A palaeoenvironmental investigation by ArchaeoScape Consulting established that the plateau gravels occupying the summit of St. Georges Hill are braided river deposits, typical of Pleistocene terrace sediments in southern England and related to the terrace system of either the Mole or the Wey.

A watching brief was maintained by G Hayman and M Dover of SCAU on works for a new store building within the area of Oatlands Palace, for the Girl Guides Association. Within the new foundation trenches the remains of a culvert associated with the infilling of the moat during Henry VIII’s reign was identified. A second feature expected, a wall identified during earlier excavation, was not seen.

Recording by C Currie of CKCA, of remains of a building revealed during fallen tree clearance. From map evidence, this would appear to be the northern half of the building known as Pigeon House Cottage.