Topographic and photographic survey by G White and M Kendall of WA of a site containing six clay or gravel extraction pits. The overgrown nature of the site meant that it was not possible to determine a definite age for the pits, but the density of the established flora in conjunction with the weathering of the floors and flanks of the pits to a smooth surface suggest an 18th–19th century date.

Excavation by P Harp and members of SyAS next to Wayneflete’s Tower. The Tower was built by Bishop William of Wayneflete as a gatehouse, dated by dendrochronology to 1462, and is the last remaining standing structure associated with the palace of the bishops of Winchester that once existed here. The excavation revealed a series of brick walls, the bases of which were not reached at the 2.1m-deep extent of the excavation. The walls defined one complete and two partial walls, and the probable base of a slightly later staircase.

Resistivity survey by D and A Graham of SyAS undertaken to investigate the survival and location of the now-buried remains of Alexander Raby’s principal mill at the Downside industrial complex, with a view to locating an excavation trench on the site in 2008. The survey clearly illustrated the differences between what appeared to be the former mill structure and its associated watercourses, which corresponded with historic map information.

Survey of earthworks by J English indicates the presence of boundaries of at least two phases of field systems and a series of gravel quarries preserved by emparkment during the 18th and 19th centuries. An excavation across the putative line of a road pre-dating the emparkment had previously proved inconclusive, but a test pit located in the area of a post-medieval dwelling that formerly stood adjoining the site indicated activity dating from the late 14th or early 15th centuries to the early 19th century. (412)

Watching brief by C Menary of MoLAS revealed that the site straddled both the gravel island and the alluvial flood plain. A layer of alluvium containing residual Roman finds could relate to flooding of the Roman settlement in the 3rd century, and a deposit of post-medieval dumping dating to 1740–1800 was possibly an effort to raise the ground level in this period.

Watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU during the construction of a pipeline from the High Street at Reigate Methodist church into Priory Park. A number of features probably relating to the 18th century geometric kitchen gardens were revealed within the park, as well as the remains of a possible former trackway. Elsewhere, an apparent buried medieval soil layer produced 13th and 14th century pottery, and the area around the Methodist church and towards the High Street revealed evidence from probable boundary walls and a cellar of post-medieval date.

Geophysical survey and evaluation by D Sykes of OA to inform a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration and enhancement of the park landscape. The geophysical work provided generally disappointing and inconclusive results, especially around the area of the priory where it had been hoped that evidence for former monastic structures would be forthcoming, although magnetometry work on the summit of Park Hill did reveal a number of anomalies consistent with the presence of a Bronze Age site that is suspected to exist in the area.

Watching brief by C Currie of CKCA during the excavations for a lift shaft revealed possible evidence for the foundation wall of either 16th or 18th century houses, both formerly on the site, and a drainage channel. The investigation was however too limited in scale to provide conclusive dating evidence for any features.

Evaluation by J Pine of TVAS revealed evidence for 13th–15th century layers, with the possibility of a cut feature of medieval date also being discovered, although this could not be confirmed. Evidence of 17th–18th century pitting activity was also revealed, followed by 19th–20th century disturbance in a relatively deep sequence that suggested continuous activity on the site for some considerable time.

Excavation by J Pine of TVAS following evaluation in 2004. The earliest features recorded were a series of 13th–14th century pits containing an array of domestic rubbish. There appeared to be a hiatus in activity following this, with little further activity noted until a 17th century soil/rubbish horizon was revealed. Pitting then continued into the 18th and 19th centuries in a sequence of fairly typical urban backlands activity. A subsequent watching brief was undertaken during the underpinning of a boundary wall.