Surrey Archaeological Society

Watching brief by D Whittaker of ASE during upgrading works on or close to the site of a probable Bronze Age cremation cemetery, discovered towards the end of the 19th century, revealed evidence of extensive modern disturbance but no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Earthwork survey by I Ellis and J English of SyAS of a Scheduled feature known as the Bee Garden. The site was exposed unexpectedly following an extensive fire on the common. The feature was recorded as a roughly trapezoidal bank and ditched enclosure measuring approximately 100 x 100m, with a surviving second outer bank in some places. A suggestion of a two-phase construction process was noted, although without intrusive excavations it was not possible to date any of the surviving details with any confidence, or accurately determine the purpose of the feature.

Evaluation by M Bagwell of PCA revealed no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Continuation of the watching brief begun in 2006 by S Ford of TVAS during redevelopment works. Little of archaeological interest was revealed, although peat deposits were unexpectedly encountered on part of the site. Analysis of pollens from this material suggested a changing landscape, with heathland species predominating in the early part of the sequence, followed by an increase in alder carr and grassy species later on.

Evaluation by S Cass of TVAS revealed no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Watching brief by C Clarke of AOC during engineering investigations inside and outside the building revealed made-ground from the construction of the church in 1913, but no finds or features of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by S Ford of TVAS revealed two diffuse charcoal-rich patches, one of which included some burnt flint. Both patches are considered to be the product of a burning activity such as scrub clearance.

Evaluation by P Jones of SCAU prior to an extension to the hotel. Roman structural evidence had previously been recorded on the site during archaeological observations in 1982. No repetition of this evidence was noted, although a fluvial clay was recorded at the base of the sequence, which apparently corresponded to a layer previously observed. This was overlain by a pebbly soil of medieval date with post-medieval rubble layers above, suggesting that some horizontal truncation of parts of the site had occurred

Evaluation by T Collie of ASE with one trench revealing three apparent ditch termini, two of which contained fragmentary Iron Age/Early Roman pottery. Extension of the area revealed two additional gullies, neither of which provided any dating evidence. A second phase of evaluation is planned.

Evaluation by A Cetera of MoLAS, as part of an ongoing programme of site investigations undertaken prior to and during redevelopment. Only a single trench was investigated in this instance with no finds or features of archaeological significance being revealed.