Surrey Archaeological Society

Ice house which served Painshill Park noted by GB Greenwood. In good condition. (176)

Two trenches excavated by RJ Poulton and MG O'Connell for SCC and Berkley Homes Ltd in advance of proposed redevelopment. No finds or features in the interior and no finds in a section of the inner rampart, but two phases noted, perhaps to be equated with previous finds of early and late IA pottery from the site.

Ice house noted on OS 6" map of 1866 by GB Greenwood. Now demolished. (176)

Monitoring by J Powell of WA during geotechnical works revealed the limits to a former landfill site, and burnt flint and post-medieval artefacts within topsoil. …………………………..

Community excavation by SyAS and SCAU, under the direction of R Poulton, of the Scheduled moated site. Foundations belonging to the medieval manor, including part of the great hall, were uncovered, and coins recovered indicate that the site was established by the early 13th century. The property was later occupied by Lady Margaret Beaufort before her son, Henry VII, decided in 1503 to develop the site into a palace. Evidence of this period was revealed in the form of foundations of an oriel window of the new great hall, begun in 1508.

A magnetometry survey carried out in September 2009 by members of SyAS in a paddock referred to in the 18th and 19th centuries as Brickhill and Brick Kiln Field revealed strong, largely rectangular, anomalies. An initial test-pit down to the top of surviving archaeological layers suggested that the anomalies were due to areas much affected by heat. Later work in the following year suggested these were the remains of substantial rectangular brick clamps of probably medieval date.

Excavation and watching brief undertaken by R Brown of OA in advance of the creation of a swimming pool and related amenities revealed mostly modern deposits, but a rectilinear arrangement of postholes may represent the remains of a simple timber building of possible 16th–17th century date. This may have been a temporary storage or lodging structure associated with the construction of the manor-house or the domestic functions of the west wing. A Kelly of OA also undertook some historic building recording work before and during alterations to Sutton Place

A watching brief by T Munnery of SCAU, following the evaluation of the site in 1996 that revealed possible medieval features, did not reveal any further finds or features of archaeological interest.

Historic building recording by S Lilley of AOC prior to conversion. The structure was recorded and assessed as dating to the mid-17th century, although the presence of a medieval down brace suggests re-use of materials from an earlier structure. Evidence for a substantial fire within the structure at some point in its history was also catalogued.