The seventh season of community excavations, and the third and final year of a Heritage Lottery funded project called ‘Woking Palace and its Park’, at the Scheduled moated site by The Friends of Woking Palace, SyAS and SCAU, under the direction of R Poulton of SCAU.

TQ 019 569 The White Hart inn, 150 High Street, Old Woking

A second phase of excavation by N Randall of SCAU, following an earlier archaeological evaluation (SyAC 99, 237) that revealed part of a previously unknown early medieval Christian burial ground, confirmed the extent of the burial ground, from which a further 225 in-situ inhumations were excavated, and revealed part of a tannery complex. A mitigation strategy was developed by which a substantial proportion of the inhumations within the development area were left in situ beneath landscaped and car park areas.

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.

Historic building assessment by M Higgins of SCC of a previously unrecognised three-unit (parlour, hall and service) medieval open-hall house, with an internal jetty at the upper end, an overshot cross-passage at the low end and a suggested date of the third quarter of the 15th century.

A second year of community test pitting directed by A Sassin and D Graham of SyAS. Fifteen 1m2 test pits excavated at Farnham Park, Garden Cottage and Lowndes End on Long Garden Walk, the Windsor Almshouses, 7A Castle Street, the Museum of Farnham, the Old Vicarage, and Bishops Meadow produced finds of post-medieval or Victorian date, attesting to the majority of pits being located outside the known medieval core of the town.

Evaluation by M Saywood of SCAU revealed a possible medieval or post-medieval ditch terminal. A subsequent watching brief revealed two pits and the possible remnant of an occupation deposit, all dated to the late medieval or early post-medieval period.

Historic building assessment by M Higgins of SCC of a probable mid-15th century house with 17th century additions. Against and parallel to the road, is a two-bay, low-end cross-wing, that is jettied to the west end. Behind this, at right-angles to the road, is a (probably contemporary) two-bay, open hall with probably an internal jetty to the floored upper end. It has a crown post roof and an arched door head between the ranges but few other details.

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.

Watching brief by J Cook of Border Archaeology of a pipeline easement extending 90m into Surrey, revealed no finds or features of archaeological significance. The pipeline crossed the county boundary, also thought to be the medieval boundary of Windsor Forest, but the extant earthwork bank is probably modern in origin.