Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU prior to residential development on the former playing fields. Only one feature (a probable wall foundation) of potential interest was revealed, although this was probably modern. The majority of the site had been disturbed previously by the creation of level surfaces for the playing fields.

Evaluation by A Norton of OA in advance of residential development revealed a posthole and two possible gullies, but no dating material.

Excavation of two test pits by S Richmond as part of the Time Team `Big Dig’ revealed the remains of one, and possibly another, wall, associated with a pair of cottages demolished on the site in the early 20th century. Pottery finds were reported as being post-medieval, although two medieval sherds were listed.

Monitoring of groundworks by T Howe of SCC during construction works. No finds or features of archaeological interest were seen in what was a particularly limited exercise. However, intact soil profiles were observed at depth, suggesting that archaeological remains could survive in an undisturbed condition in the area.

Archaeological monitoring programme conducted by A Brossler of OA of c 11km of pipeline trenching. Only a single pit of likely Bronze Age date was noted to be of interest, with a number of additional features found to be of modern date.Archaeological monitoring programme conducted by A Brossler of OA of c 11km of pipeline trenching. Only a single pit of likely Bronze Age date was noted to be of interest, with a number of additional features found to be of modern date.

Resistivity survey by A and D Graham of SyAS located a linear area of high resistance that is probably the remains of the Roman road known to pass through the site. The feature had a central c 5m-wide band of highest resistance, with a c 5m-wide band of lower resistance readings either side – probably the result of ploughing having scattered the road metalling.

Evaluation by J Lowe of TVAS prior to submission of an application for redevelopment. The remains of the former manor (demolished in c 1988 following an earlier fire) were found to be in a relatively poor condition, with large areas apparently having been completely robbed and only fragmentary rubble remaining. Sufficient remains were encountered to establish the accuracy of known plans of the site however. The remains of the Elizabethan core of the building were particularly poorly represented.

Excavation of Area ‘A’ by G Hayman of SCAU prior to residential development following a series of evaluations in 2002. A number of Mesolithic or Neolithic struck flints recovered attest to occupation in the area for a considerable period. However, the main period of occupation on the site appears to have begun around the middle of the 1st century AD (although some residual pottery fragments of a potentially earlier date were recovered) and to have continued until the late 2nd/early 3rd centuries. A ring gully appeared to be one of the earliest features in the area.

Watching brief by C Currie of CKCA during the breaching of the dam of Phillimore Lake found evidence for what is thought to have been the rare survival of a timber revetment facing the medieval mill dam. The timbers were sampled for dendrochronological dating. In the 1880s the Phillimore Lake dam had been rebuilt and enlarged to create a much larger lake, and the rebuilt dam was about 1.8m higher than the original and had a thin clay core. A few years later, in 1896, a second lake was created at Rowe’s Flash, and draining of this revealed a similar dam with a thin clay core.

Evaluation by D Britchfield of AOC revealed no features pre-dating the post-medieval period