Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU in advance of the construction of a new school revealed residual stray flints of possible Neolithic date and a sherd of Late Roman pottery, but no features of archaeological interest.

Report on an archaeological assessment undertaken in 2003 by N Bannister for the Woodlands Trust. Because the wood was probably managed as a wood pasture common (where manorial tenants could graze stock beneath an open canopy of pollarded trees and where there was little need for wood banks dividing the property of different woodland owners), and because of levelling for and laying out of a munitions store located here during the Second World War, few features of antiquity exist.

Evaluation by S Hoad of MoLAS in advance of the construction of a new community hall on the site of the graveyard in use between 1868 and the late 1920s revealed two grave cuts (which were not excavated) dating to the late 19th century.

Watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU during redevelopment revealed an in-situ layer producing a domestic pottery assemblage of late 13th/early 14th century, fragments of tile, charcoal and animal bone, and a struck flint flake, beneath a 19th century topsoil containing late 19th century domestic debris.

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU in advance of a proposed extension to the cemetery revealed a large number of features including an Iron Age pit and three large pits (deneholes) of medieval date. All the pits contained residual finds of prehistoric date, as did a number of undated pits, ditches and a posthole, and provide evidence for activity from the Neolithic to the Iron Age in the vicinity.

Investigation by Time Team comprising geophysical survey, field survey and trenching identified a number of Roman features including several pits, one of which was over 3m deep, a kiln or oven, and that the Roman road connecting London and Brighton ran through the site and not along Tilburstow Hill Road, a short distance to the east. (398)

Archaeological work under the guidance of P Jones of SCAU and by N Branch of ArchS focused upon a dry valley (the hollow, as it was formerly described) visited repeatedly by Mesolithic communities that had been identified during previous evaluation at the quarry. The archaeological work consisted of geophysical survey, environmental sampling and excavation and was undertaken by professional, volunteer and student archaeologists.

Watching brief maintained by N Shaikhley, J Robertson and S Hind of SCAU during the excavation of a pipeline trench and associated easement did not reveal any finds or features of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by R Poulton of SCAU revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest.

Monitoring by C Pine of DAS during the excavation of geotechnical pits and groundworks for building and car park extensions, observed residual medieval pottery, three fragments of clay pipe stem and oyster shells in the topsoil, and a small pit containing medieval tile and 19th century glass.