Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by C Challis of TVAS prior to residential development revealed no finds or features of archaeological interest, with the site having been extensively disturbed by past construction activity and root action.

Evaluation by I Howell of MoLAS prior to residential development of the site. No archaeological finds or features were revealed.

Watching brief by R Cowie of MoLAS following evaluation and excavation of part of the site last year. The excavation had been located in the area where the evaluation had revealed that features were concentrated. The work identified at least three pits of possible Neolithic date, three Bronze Age ditches representing part of a co-axial field system including the corner of an enclosure, two water-holes likely to be contemporaneous with the enclosure, and a Roman pit.

Archaeological monitoring by P Jones of SCAU during the laying of pipes and associated easement strips associated with a flood alleviation scheme revealed an isolated late Roman ditch

Continuing excavation by G Hayman of SCAU south of those areas excavated in previous years revealed further features of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman date. The Bronze Age features consisted mostly of ditches belonging to a co-axial field system that developed during the Late Bronze Age, but also included one large pit and a small pit or posthole. The field system has been traced across all areas of the quarry that have been examined since work began in 1999 and extends for an unknown distance beyond it.

Archaeological monitoring by N Crank of AS during alterations to, and extensions at the rear of, the hotel revealed a small quantity of residual Roman pottery, but no archaeological features.

Evaluation by S Deeves of PCA outside the areas that would have been destroyed, in archaeological terms, by the construction of former and existing structures on the site, revealed only natural tree/root hollows and a possible old pond or watercourse (although this may be a feature associated with brickearth extraction).

Watching brief by R Poulton of SCAU during the creation of a long-jump pit and runway inside, and two pergolas just outside, the Scheduled area of the Saxon and medieval cemetery. The works were generally too shallow to disturb any deposits, although observation of the excavation of postholes of one of the pergolas unearthed two cow bones, which may well have formed part of the spread of Saxon midden material identified in 1996 SCAU excavations.

Archaeological monitoring during foundation excavations, by A Norton of OA. Some alluvial deposits were observed, but no finds or features of archaeological interest were recorded, with the majority of the site having been landscaped during the 19th century

Geophysical survey by A Bartlett of BCC, with a supplementary evaluation by P Jones of SCAU, in order to test the potential effectiveness of geophysical survey over the site. A number of magnetic anomalies were detected, although no corresponding archaeological features were revealed, suggesting that full geophysical survey of the site would not be productive. Subsequent evaluation involving the excavation of 464 trenches by A Taylor of TVAS in advance of possible mineral extraction revealed a wide range of finds and deposits.