Surrey Archaeological Society

Resistivity survey following on from fieldwalking in 1997 located several linear features, and two small trenches were excavated by H Davies and J English and the GfdAG to investigate their nature. The features proved to be three ditches, seemingly parallel, and a small extension to one of the trenches located a short length of probable wall footing of large flint nodules keyed together but not mortared and cut into the ditch siltings.

A watching brief maintained by R Poulton and S Hind of SCAU, for Richard Cook Ltd, on the redevelopment of this 19th century mill site for offices, revealed no evidence for earlier mills; the area was found to have been fairly extensively disturbed as a result of 19th and 20th century works. However, palaeo-environmental analysis of sediments in former channels of the Wey, uncovered by the works, revealed evidence for increasing human activity in the vicinity from the Bronze Age onwards, with a commensurate reduction in the amount of woodland in the area.

Training excavation by S Dyer, for SyAS, on land where investigations in 1939 revealed two phases of medieval buildings and a kiln. The location of the earlier excavation as well as other features were suggested by topographical and geophysical surveys. A strong magnetic anomaly proved to be the location of the kiln recorded in 1939, and the recovery of significant quantities of brick and tile suggest that the kiln produced both these types of building material, probably in the early post-medieval period.

Survey of the archaeological and historic landscape of the Commons by C Currie of CKC Archaeology, for SCC and the Corporation of London, undertaken with reference to them being proposed as Areas of Historic Landscape Value. In the north of Ashtead Common a number of earthworks and other features surround the site of a Roman villa. The villa is a rare type of corridor villa, with considerable evidence that it adjoined a large scale tile manufactory. Extensive areas of quarries and spoil heaps demonstrate the extent of industrial activity on the site in the Roman period.

Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU, for the Mitchell Evans Partnership, of the site of a new leisure centre within what was formerly Nonsuch Park. Several features were revealed, some of Roman date, some possibly Bronze Age. Only the bases of these features survived, indicating that the use of the site as a nursery had caused a degree of disturbance.

Watching brief carried out by N Shaikhley of SCAU for Nonsuch High School revealed no significant finds or features; the area was found to have been disturbed previously.

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU, for the Surrey Community Development Trust, in advance of residential development revealed no features, and only three fragments of post-medieval tile and a possible struck flint flake. No signs were encountered of Stane Street, previously thought to cross the site, and the possibility of an alternative route for the road in this vicinity now needs to be considered.

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU, on behalf of McCarthy and Stone Ltd, in advance of development for sheltered accomodation. Four trenches revealed no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Watching brief by G Pattison of SCAU, for Glencarron Properties Ltd, of redevelopment within the historic centre of Epsom revealed that the site had previously been extensively disturbed; no archaeological levels survived.