57 High Street, Reigate
Continuation of watching brief by N Shaikhley of SCAU, which began in 2007. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed.
Reigate Heath
Topographical survey of the Reigate Heath barrow cemetery and its surroundings by J English of SyAS. Detailed plans of all known and suspected barrows have shown continuing damage by heavy leisure use. The barrows utilise a ridge between two streams and are overlooked by the North Downs
Walton Heath, Tadworth
Watching brief/site-walkover by P Harp of Plateau during golf course remodelling works. Unstratified Palaeolithic and Mesolithic flints were recovered, together with a small quantity of Roman tile and pottery
Walton Heath Golf Club, Tadworth
Evaluation by T Munnery of SCAU prior to the construction of a reservoir. An undated posthole, together with a single pit, and five linear features of probable recent date were identified. A number of stray flint artefacts ranging in date from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age were also recovered.
Land north of Tanyard Farm, Horley (Horley North East Sector Development
Excavation and watching brief by D Swift of ASE. Extensive evidence for Middle to Late Iron Age settlement was revealed to the south of the Burstow Stream, including a rare double-ring gully and post-built structure of a possible ritual nature. An apparent hiatus in occupation occurred until re-settlement in the 1st century AD, although field systems elsewhere on the site showed evidence for continuity. A further hiatus in occupation was noted until activity resumed in the late 2nd–early 3rd centuries AD.
Littleton Manor, Reigate
Soil-stripping, mapping and sampling by S Watson of PCA prior to the formation of a horse jumping area. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed. However, naturally occurring deposits of bog iron ore were encountered. Bog iron is formed through percolation of groundwater flowing into wetlands, and is thought to have been a major source of iron during the pre-industrial periods. Its discovery is fairly rare as most deposits appear to have been worked out in antiquity, so its analysis will contribute significantly to studies of pre-industrial iron-working in the region.
Stepstile Meadows, Reigate
Excavation by D Whittaker and A Margetts of ASE, continuing from previous evaluation and excavations in 2007. Limited archaeological material was revealed, with the majority of the predominantly Iron Age and Roman finds being recovered from a layer of colluvium. Some fairly unabraded Neolithic material was also recovered from this layer, suggesting possible rapid deposition, although the presence of early medieval material also suggests some later disturbance, possibly through ploughing.
Common Field, Old Reigate Road, Betchworth
Evaluation by R Entwistle of Berkshire Archaeological Services on the opposite side of the road to the Telex Field site where excavation in 2007 had produced evidence of multi-period activity (SyAC 95, 309). The distribution of features and finds uncovered during the work in 2007 suggested that the remains were likely to extend into the Common Field, but contrary to these expectations, almost all the trenches were devoid of features. The only feature of certain archaeological origin was a shallow, heavily truncated pit containing the fragmentary remains of a Late Bronze Age pottery vessel.
St Nicholas church, Charlwood
Watching brief by S Porteus of ASE during groundworks associated with the construction of a new extension to the north of the building. Four brick tombs of late 18th–19th century date were identified and recorded. A total of seventeen burials were excavated during the course of the work, and these were to be reburied elsewhere in the graveyard. A further nine were revealed but were preserved in situ as they were below the level affected by the extension groundworks. The burials all appear to be post-medieval in date.
Ashtead Common villa and tileworks, Ashtead
A third season of excavation was undertaken by D Bird for the Roman Studies Group of SyAS in 2008, the results of which allow both a better identification of at least basic phases of the villa site, with stratified pottery and other finds to provide dating, and a clearer understanding of information in A W G Lowther’s reports. Further magnetometer and topographical surveys were carried out by ASE and these hinted at features crossing one of the three trenches opened, but nothing was found that related to them.
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