Surrey Archaeological Society

Excavation carried out in late 2003 by D Williams of SCC on and around the findspot of three bronze objects of mid–Late Bronze Age date found during metal detecting. The excavation involved one trench located on the findspot and a number of test pits which revealed that the hoard appears to have lain beneath a small cairn of tightly packed flint nodules. The cairn may have been created on the edge of a lynchet, suggesting a similar date for this feature. (378)

Metal detector survey under the direction of D Williams of SCC recovered only three objects pre-dating the 17th century. These were a buckle plate of medieval or Tudor date, a brooch dating to the 1st century AD, and an Early Iron Age, c 600–450BC, bow brooch.

Evaluation by J Perry of SutAS in advance of residential redevelopment revealed no features, but recovered a large quantity of residual finds. These included prehistoric struck and burnt flint, Late Bronze Age to 20th century pottery, post-medieval ceramic building material, clay pipes, and a William III halfpenny

Magnetic susceptibility, detailed magnetometry, and resistivity survey by D Sabin of Stratascan and a programme of fieldwalking by N Hall of ASE along sections of the proposed route of the A24 between Capel and Horsham. Within the Surrey section of the route, a number of anomalies and flint scatters were located. A watching brief carried out by K Sayer of PCA during the excavation of geotechnical trial pits along the proposed route revealed three possible features, one of which contained a fragment of burnt flint and a sherd of medieval pottery.

Investigation by T Howe and G Jackson of SCC of a site containing human remains discovered during the excavation of a soakaway. Examination suggested that the remains were archaeological in nature (not criminal as was first suspected), and comprised two separate burials, although the exact date of the interments was obscure. It is hoped that additional analyses will be possible to determine more clearly the origin of the remains, although Saxon burials have been recorded in the area previously.

Watching brief carried out by L Howes during the reconstruction of the Hermitage. Evidence for the foundations of the original 18th century Hermitage were revealed, and preserved in situ.

Watching brief carried out by J Perry of SutAS during the construction of a mobile telephone network mast. Numerous fragments of worked and burnt flint were recovered, together with a fragment of burnt flint-tempered pottery of probable Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age date, from sandy deposits interpreted as being riverine in origin. The report concludes that there was no evidence for archaeology in the trench.

Evaluation and watching brief by N Shaikhley and J Robertson of SCAU revealed a large number of features, the majority of which appeared to be inhumations of medieval date, although dating evidence was scarce. The inhumations were probably originally within the boundary of the adjacent churchyard, which map evidence suggests may have contracted to its present size in the mid–late 18th century.

Archaeological recording by T Howe of SCC and A Norris of SyAS during drainage ditch clearance works. Two sections across a former watercourse shown on a 1701 estate map of Albury Park as ‘Henry Howards Watercourse’ were examined. The watercourse appears to have been constructed as part of the extensive water management improvements in the area, undertaken by Howard (later the 6th Duke of Norfolk) and diarist John Evelyn in the late 17th century. No evidence for the original date of the feature was found.

Fieldwalking by J English of SyAS in a field attached to the farm recovered 72 struck flints of possible Bronze Age date, three sherds of 13th century-type pottery and a thin scatter of post-medieval pottery and tile fragments. (376)