Surrey Archaeological Society

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.

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU on phase 6b area of this ongoing mineral extraction site. Evidence of a field system mainly dating to the post-medieval period was found, as well as pits of a possible prehistoric date. Medieval pottery finds indicate activity of this period in the area.

Evaluation by M Lightfoot of NA revealed evidence of post-medieval to modern activity, although no evidence for any previous utilization of the area was revealed

Excavations by C Cowan of MoLAS prior to and during residential development. No further prehistoric remains were encountered following the 2002 evaluation. The earliest remains related to remnants of a possible medieval structure, associated with pottery dated to 1230–1400 which was recovered from the topsoil/subsoil interface. Several post-medieval garden features were encountered also, together with large amounts of pottery in the topsoil layers which fell into two categories: 17th to earlier 18th century kitchen and sanitary wares, and late 18th–19th century tablewares. Work is ongoing

Evaluation in 2002 by A Stephenson of AOC prior to a residential redevelopment resulted in the collection of a number of environmental samples. Completion of scientific analysis provided evidence for flood plain formation, together with the presence of woodland and grassland, as well as cultivated ground during the Early Neolithic. Evidence for woodland clearance and peat formation was also found, as were remains of beaver and domesticated or wild cattle