Surrey Archaeological Society

Continuation of survey work carried out under the direction of C Currie of CKCA, as part of the Community Archaeology Project for SCC and SyAS, to assess whether the study area was suitable for designation as an ASHLV. The survey examined a large expanse of heathland that appears to have seen little change since the Bronze Age. The poor sandy soils seem to have been abandoned late in this period, and the area subsequently became a heathland pasture, with little evidence of occupation.

Watching brief by R Poulton of SCAU during the construction of an extension and related works revealed evidence of 18th century and perhaps earlier activities.

Evaluation by D Palmer of AOC in advance of the construction of office buildings revealed no evidence of archaeological activity on the site.

Evaluation by R Cowie of MoLAS revealed numerous natural clay-filled hollows in the surface of the river terrace gravels. The gravel was also cut by a number of man-made features including pits and ditches. These were mainly concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the site. Single prehistoric struck flints were recovered form a root hole and a small pit, and a small fragment of baked clay or pottery was also found in a pit.

Excavation following an evaluation by J Leary of PCA revealed a Bronze Age pit (and possibly contemporary features), and evidence of the early development of Stanwell in the form of a gully and two pits containing Saxo-Norman pottery, and slightly later field boundaries. These features were overlain by a ploughsoil containing 12th to 14th century pottery and daub, and point to the existence of a building nearby. A well and a series of rubbish pits containing 18th and 19th century pottery, some rare and non-local, were also excavated.

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’.