Surrey Archaeological Society

Historic building recording and watching brief by P Copeland and I Froneman of CgMs prior to and during conversion works. The Town Hall is thought to have been constructed in 1708 on the site of an earlier chapel, although no evidence for this structure now visibly survives. Subsequent alterations to the interior have obscured much of the original fabric, little of which was revealed during the refurbishment. A written, drawn and photographic record of the structure was compiled, together with further observations made during alterations.

Watching brief by D Williams of SCAU during the excavation of service trenches associated with the Priory Park regeneration project. Stone-built foundations, which were probably the remains of a former wing of the house, were revealed. A somewhat larger foundation that may have once formed part of the original Augustinian priory buildings was revealed, although dating evidence was not found. Four inhumation burials were also uncovered. All the archaeological remains have been preserved in situ.

Watching brief by N Shaikhley of SCAU revealed no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by D Eddisford of AOC revealed no finds or features pre-dating the 19th century. Extensive evidence of horizontal truncation was noted across the site, probably as a result of sand extraction.

Final season of the ongoing research excavation by P Harp of Plateau continued to recover later prehistoric material

Evaluation by D Swift of ASE revealed a number of linear features, probably drainage and/or boundary ditches of post-17th century date, although they rarely produced datable material. Two of the ditches produced small quantities of Late Bronze Age and Late Iron Age pottery, although there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that this material was not residual in later features. Some small pits/postholes were also found, although none contained dating evidence. Most of the datable material was recovered from the topsoil, and was predominantly post-medieval in date.

Ground penetrating radar survey by T Archer of Arrow Geophysics as part of the park regeneration project. The area of the former tennis courts was examined during the trial trench evaluation to examine the extent of the structural archaeological remains that work had revealed. Despite the apparent suitability of the technique for this purpose and the known shallow depth of the remains, the results were disappointingly inconclusive, probably due to a number of factors including the uneven nature of parts of the area and buried building debris.

Evaluation and excavation by J Robertson of SCAU, undertaken as part of the park regeneration programme. The area of the former tennis courts was evaluated, with evidence for the remains of a hexagonal dovecote, structural walls and a hearth being revealed. The area was thought more suitable for geophysical survey, however, and this technique was pursued here subsequently (see report below).

Evaluation by T Collie of ASE revealed evidence for extensive terracing of the site prior to the construction of the existing house in the 1930s. However, one trench revealed an intact soil profile with a shallow depression containing pottery of a Late Iron Age–Early Roman date, with a more substantial cut feature of this period also being located. A subsequent investigation by D Whittaker of ASE revealed further evidence of this date in a roughly linear alignment.

Evaluation by F Raymond of BAS identified significant Bronze Age deposits concentrated on a plateau of land in the south-eastern part of the site, and this area was subsequently excavated. Activity commenced during the Mesolithic period, and is marked by the presence of a flint scatter from the southern part of the site. There were no concentrations of flint and no features, suggesting the principal focus, if there is one, lies or lay to the south and east. The focus of Early and Middle Bronze Age activity was located on the eastern side of the site.