Surrey Archaeological Society

Watching brief by J Stevenson of SCAU during groundworks involved in the excavation of a new sewer. The exposed sections of the sewer trench were too unstable to be examined safely, so only the general stratigraphy was recorded. The accompanying easement strip removed only the topsoil and so did not impact on the archaeology bearing horizons, but a number of unstratified late Neolithic or early Bronze Age struck flints (3 cores, 4 flakes, 1 retouched flake, 1 notched flake) were recovered from the subsoil and removed topsoil.

Watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU during groundworks associated with the construction of a replacement vestry. No features or evidence of structures earlier than the demolished vestry were revealed. However, a number of finds were recovered from the foundation and services trenches, including three sherds of pottery ranging in date from the Bronze Age to the middle Iron Age, three pieces of struck flint, and several pieces of calcined flint, providing evidence of prehistoric activity in the vicinity.

Watching brief by N Shaikhley of SCAU and members of the WCMS on a network of caves identified on the site during work last year. The caves are believed to have been created in the 17th or 18th centuries, at a similar time to others present along the High Street and South Street. Their primary function appear to be as a source of high quality sand, although their subsequent uses appear to have been varied, including modification to use as a World War II air raid shelter.

Resistivity survey and excavation by G Rapson of a section of a cropmark, previously recorded as a possible Roman camp, revealed an Iron Age ditch. The section was located close to the entrance and contained charcoal-rich deposits, the lowest of which included a large variety of unabraded sherds of burnished pottery. Upper layers included bead rims and grey sandy wares of probable 1st century BC or 1st century AD date. A sample of well preserved animal bone, including the skull of a red deer stag from which the antlers had been sawn off, was recovered from the ditch.

Recording by G Rapson of a large earthwork, which is possibly part of the remains of a fortified Norman manor house known from documentary evidence as Black Hawes Castle. A sherd from a 12th or 13th century cooking pot was recovered in the garden below the earthwork. (357)

Landscape assessment by N Bannister, and volunteers from SyAS, for the Woodlands Trust, involving the recording of features identified from maps and documents, as well as previously unknown earthworks. The most frequent features recorded were banks and ditches associated with former land divisions. The lack of features relating to woodland management such as charcoal hearths, saw pits, timber extraction routes, is typical of a Post-Medieval wood in this area located on former farmland.

Watching brief by J Stevenson of SCAU during the construction of facilities for the disabled revealed 19th century brick vaults, together with the foundations of the 15th century tower. A curious flint and greensand “spur” was found to have been built into the foundations. This did not support any known or previously demolished feature, and there is no satisfactory explanation for its function.

Evaluation and excavation by P Boyer of PCA prior to residential development. Extensive horizontal truncation, probably dating to the establishment of the barracks during World War II, was found across the majority of the site. However, a Roman enclosure dating to the mid/late 1st century AD was revealed, which probably formed part of a wider agricultural landscape. Later 17th and 18th century agricultural features were also identified in the same area, which appeared to have escaped the truncation evident across the rest of the site.

Evaluation by J Stevenson of SCAU prior to a residential development. Two pits of likely prehistoric origin, containing large amounts of charcoal and burnt flints, were found, although no definitive dating material was present. No evidence for Roman activity was seen despite the proximity of the villa site just to the south-west. A compact layer of building rubble seen in three trenches was thought to relate to the demolition of an 18th century farmstead that is known to have existed here.

Watching brief by J Stevenson of ASE carried out during groundworks associated with the development of a new sports buildings and pitch revealed the site of a probable Second World War air raid shelter, and identified some dressed chalk blocks re-used as foundations in the site’s western boundary wall.