16th century

Albury Park test pitting

Events: 
Fieldwork
Groups: 
Medieval Studies Forum
Periods: 
16th century
17th century
18th century
Medieval
Post-medieval

We will be returning for a second year of test pitting this season at Albury Park to investigate the deserted medieval settlement which once stretched across the course of the former road which continued all the way to Shere. The original village of Albury was displaced in the early 19th century (to its current location to the west), and little now remains standing of the former cottages. However, with the help of geophysical survey, LiDAR and - of course - a large-scale series of test pits spread across the site, we are working to uncover and learn more about the original settlement!

Albury Park geophysical survey and test pitting 2023

The original medieval settlement and manor of Albury, in Albury Park, is well-known for its displacement by the local lord(s) of the manor in the late 18th and early 19th century and re-location a kilometre away, to the present-day village, formerly the manor of Weston. Little is known of its earlier history, including its precise extent and any evidence of medieval activity beyond its Domesday ‘Old Saxon’ church (TQ 0631 4785) and mill along the banks of the Tillingbourne.

MSF special lecture 'The Folklore and Archaeology of Historic Buildings' and AGM

Events: 
Lecture
Groups: 
Medieval Studies Forum
Periods: 
16th century
17th century
Medieval

On Thursday 16 December at approximately 19:00, the MSF AGM will be preceded by an online Zoom lecture from James Wright FSA on ‘The Folklore and Archaeology of Historic Buildings’. James, a buildings archaeologist and historic stone specialist, will explore some of the most common misconceptions surrounding historic buildings, outlining the legends, explaining the origins of the myths and revealing the underlying truth behind each story to understand a little more about their former occupants.

Forge Cottage, Thursley Road, Elstead

Watching brief by K Butler of CBAS revealed no archaeological features, although two pottery sherds dating to the Saxo-Norman period were recovered from the topsoil, suggesting possible early medieval activity on or near the site. The majority of the artefacts recovered during the watching brief were dated to the mid–late 16th century, contemporary with Forge Cottage. Other pottery recovered was of the early post-medieval period, although the largest quantity was of 19th century date.

Foyle Farm, Popes Lane, Oxted

Historic building assessment by M Higgins of SCC. The earliest phase is a probably late 16th century, three bay cross-wing to a now lost hall range. It is of two storeys, close studded with gables front and back and originally unheated. Probably in the mid-17th century a three-bay main range and a three-bay cross-wing was added together with three chimney stacks to serve both sections.

The Prince Albert public house, 1 Outwood Lane, Bletchingley

Historic building assessment by M Higgins of SCC of a probable late 15th century, open-hall house of three bays, of which just one was open. It includes an overshot cross-entry with speres (to exclude draughts) and a moulded upper end dais beam and decorated head to the parlour door spere. An added chimney preserved the cross-entry and a rear range was added in the 18th century.

Hatchlands Park, East Clandon

Landscape study by H Beamish of OAN, undertaken in 2009, and reported in 2010. Desk and topographical survey identified a wide range of features, many of which could be linked to the early use of the area as farmland prior to the creation of the park in the 19th century. These included ponds, quarries, boundaries and enclosures, a number of which were chosen for more detailed measured survey. Resistivity and magnetometry survey by M and A Roseveare of ArchaeoPhysica was also undertaken in an attempt to locate the remains of a Tudor property known from historic records.

St Andrews School, Grange Road, Leatherhead

Evaluation by A Margetts of ASE revealed two gulleys and a pit or ditch terminus of prehistoric date that may be part of an enclosure or field-system possibly related to prehistoric settlement known from the wider area. A probable post-medieval linear feature, a probable ditch of 16th to 18th century date, and made ground deposits in many of the trenches, may represent evidence of landscaping during the laying out the grounds surrounding the former school building. Further work suggested.

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