Surrey Archaeological Society

Continuing monitoring and excavation by G Hayman of SCAU in the area located to the south of previous work undertaken during the previous three years. This phase of the work revealed a wealth of features from the prehistoric through to the Roman. One of the most significant discoveries was a group of post holes, indicating the position of a roundhouse of probable Bronze Age origin. A number of pits and water holes were found in the same vicinity, and with the exception of one water hole of late Neolithic date, are probably of Bronze Age origin.

Watching brief by M Bennell and D Stump during the construction of a water pipeline revealed that the route of the pipeline had been largely destroyed by previous gravel quarrying, the building of the A3044, and the King George VI and Staines reservoirs. No finds or features of archaeological interest were recorded.

Watching brief by M Dover of SCAU following an evaluation of the site in 2001 revealed no finds, but a number of wells of probable post medieval to modern date.

Continuing monitoring by P Jones of SCAU during groundworks associated with the redevelopment of the former Memorial Gardens. The groundworks were largely superficial, except for deep excavation required for the installation of three water tanks.

Watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU during construction of an extension to the public house. The depth and narrowness of the foundation trenches made it impossible to do more than record the rough sequence of deposits, but the recovery of unstratified finds (largely pottery of Roman and Medieval date) from the spoil does confirm that the site lies within the town ‘island’.

Watching brief by G Potter of CA during the construction of a house. Foundations relating to an early 19th century structure known from cartographic sources were revealed, together with evidence for pre-19th century subsoil and buried topsoil horizons. No remains earlier than the Post-Medieval period were encountered.

Evaluation and watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU in advance of an extension to the quarry. A number of features were identified, although a paucity of dating evidence made interpretation difficult. A field system, delineated by a series of ditches, seemed to date to the late Medieval/early Post-Medieval period. A large number of discrete irregular hollows were interpreted as tree hollows, although there was some suggestion they may have been periglacial in origin. A middle Bronze Age axe head was discovered apparently buried in a post hole, although the provenance is not secure.

Evaluation by C Cowan of MoLAS, following a previous borehole survey that had concluded that much of the site was relatively untruncated, and that a good geoarchaeological sequence appeared across the site. The evaluation showed that a promontory of high gravel existed in the northern part of the site, with a surface dipping down to the south. Features containing four pottery sherds dated to the late Bronze Age or the early Iron Age were recorded in one trench beneath the alluvium.

Evaluation by A Stephenson of AOC prior to a residential redevelopment. No finds or features of archaeological interest were recorded, although examination of peat deposits found near the course of the river Bourne suggested that prehistoric cereal cultivation had taken place in the area during a hiatus in flooding episodes. The lack of artefactual evidence has precluded a precise date for this cultivation, although analysis is ongoing.