Surrey Archaeological Society

A watching brief was maintained by J Stevenson and N Shaikhley of SCAU, for Wimpey Homes, on the site of housing development. Three small gullies were revealed. None contained finds, but the features are believed to be of ancient rather than modern origin due to the nature of their fills.

Evaluation by T Howe of AOC, on behalf of Pfizer Ltd, of a site to be redeveloped for offices. The evaluation revealed features possibly associated with former garden layouts. The westernmost trench contained the remains of an extremely large ditch, which contained no dating evidence; a sherd of abraded Roman greyware pottery was collected from the fill during machining but this is likely to be residual. In the southernmost trench brick built foundations, probably 19th century in date, were revealed.

Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU, for Utopia Leisure, on the site of a possible extension to this 17th century house (which may be on the site of an earlier medieval property). The results were inconclusive. Only post-medieval and modern features were revealed, but these could have obliterated earlier evidence.

Evaluation by S Farid of PCA, for Laing Homes Ltd, in advance of redevelopment. Apart from modern drainage features, no archaeological deposits or features were identified.

Evaluation by D Divers of PCA, on behalf of Barratt Southern Counties, on part of the former hospital’s grounds in advance of residential redevelopment. In one area of the site, the natural was found to have been truncated by terracing. Some finds of interest were recovered; a flint blade and waste flake, two abraded sherds of 1st century Roman pottery, and several fragments of medieval roof tile, but no features were revealed.

Watching brief by R Poulton and S Hind of SCAU, for Sutton & East Surrey Water Company, on the groundworks associated with the construction of a water pipeline between Buckland and Lower Kingswood. No features of archaeological significance were revealed. However, a small amount of worked flints was recovered, including some of probable Mesolithic or Neolithic date.

Survey and restoration programme by SIHG, on behalf of the Surrey Wildlife Trust, as part of a management programme and in anticipation of the granting of Scheduled Ancient Monument Status by English Heritage.

Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU, for Westminster Healthcare Ltd, on the site of the former Farmfield Hospital. Foundations associated with the former hospital buildings were seen, but no features or finds of archaeological interest were revealed.

Dendrochronolgy of timbers from three buildings at this farm (the house, the South Barn and the East Barn) was carried out by M C Bridge, for the Ancient Monuments Laboratory. The trees for the primary base-cruck of the house were felled in AD 1351; oaks used in a second range were most likely felled in the period AD 1488-1507. These were contemporaneous with the East Barn (AD 1484-1491). New framing, incorporating a large entrance door, was added to the east side of the house from trees probably felled in AD 1574-1603; trees for a rear range were felled in AD 1639.

Watching brief carried out by R Poulton of SCAU, for the City of London Freemen’s School, revealed no features and finds of archaeological interest. This followed an evaluation conducted in 1997 which produced similarly negative results.