Surrey Archaeological Society

A watching brief carried out during stripping of the site in advance of mineral extraction was followed by an excavation by G Hayman of SCAU later in the year. This extended considerably the area of excavation carried out the previous year. The archaeological work has revealed a variety of features of Late Iron Age and Early Roman origin. These features include numerous ditches, which form parts of field systems and settlement enclosures, with evidence for trackways with ditches to either side.

Survey by N Shaikhley and G Pattison of SCAU of the fabric of the medieval and later bailey bridges, prior to proposed repairs.

Evaluation by B Barber of MoLAS on the site of an extension to the existing superstore. This revealed truncation to a uniform level across the site, probably during construction of the existing superstore, and any archaeology that might have been present will have already been destroyed.

Watching brief by D Graham of SyAS on foundation and service trench excavations proved inconclusive due to site conditions, although a small quantity of pottery of probable Saxo-Norman date was recovered from the removed spoil.

Test trenching by D Graham of SyAS confirmed that the low platform visible just outside and slightly to the north of the postern gate of Farnham Castle is in fact a laid gravel surface. The feature was first noted during a landscape survey in 1998 and appears to lie at the western end of a slight flattened bank that runs through the Park

Recovery by D and A Graham of 455 coins ranging in date from Roman 1st

Evaluation by J Stevenson of SCAU in advance of the construction of a sports centre and on land designated for future residential development. Nine trenches were excavated but no features or finds were revealed.

Observation of seven geotechnical test pits by P Bright of HA. No archaeologically significant finds or features were seen.

Watching brief carried out by D Graham of SyAS on the site of a residential development revealed no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Watching brief carried out by C Hasler of SyAS on the site of a mobile telephone mast. The site lay directly above the line of the London-Lewes Roman road, which was revealed in the 3x3m foundation pit for the mast. The road was found to be composed of a pebble surface, approximately 0.10m thick, overlying a flint layer of 0.12-0.15m thickness. The width of the road is estimated to be about 6m, although it was apparent that some damage had been caused to the feature previously, probably during the excavation of nearby ponds, and during site levelling which took place 40-60 years ago.