Mesolithic

Former Netherne Hospital, Chipstead

Evaluation and excavation by J Stevenson and G Hayman of SCAU, for Gleeson Homes, in advance of residential development on the former hospital site. The evaluation was aimed at testing the results of an earlier geophysical survey, and revealed evidence of prehistoric and medieval activity. The subsequent excavation revealed a scatter of prehistoric features, including a ditch and two small pits. One of these produced a quantity of flint debitage, seemingly of Mesolithic date. Neolithic and Bronze Age flintwork was also recovered, while the ditch and other pit were of Bronze Age date.

Battlebridge House, Merstham

Evaluation by D Dobson and D Killock of PCA, for Crest Homes, revealed evidence dating from the post-medieval period to the present day. One trench produced Bronze Age flintwork and a late 12th century pit. Further work revealed a truncated ditch aligned roughly east to west, the fills of which contained a sherd of Mid-Late Saxon pottery and one dating to the 12th century. This feature is likely to be the remains of a field or enclosure boundary.

Corner of Battlebridge Lane & Wells Place, Merstham

Evaluation and excavation by S Weaver and J Saunders of TVAS, for HBG Properties, of a site to be redeveloped for warehousing, did not reveal evidence for the barrows mentioned in this vicinity in the Merstham boundary charter of 947 AD. The evaluation did reveal a number of dateable pits and ditches indicating the presence of a late Iron Age / early Roman settlement. One of the features was initially thought to represent part of a curvilinear boundary ditch, but the subsequent excavation illustrated that this was one of two rectilinear ditches on the site.

Lower Kingswood to Buckland

Watching brief by R Poulton and S Hind of SCAU, for Sutton & East Surrey Water Company, on the groundworks associated with the construction of a water pipeline between Buckland and Lower Kingswood. No features of archaeological significance were revealed. However, a small amount of worked flints was recovered, including some of probable Mesolithic or Neolithic date.

Ashford Prison, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford

Evaluation and subsequent excavation by T Carew of PCA in advance of the construction of a new prison. A palaeochannel, probably dating to the late glacial to early post-glacial period, cut through the centre of the excavated area. A probable early Mesolithic flint blade was recovered from near the channel, although it was found in a later context. The earliest of the cut features was a pit with a probable placed deposit of early Neolithic flintwork. This was adjacent to a middle to Late Neolithic ring ditch, interpreted as either a hengiform monument or a barrow.

Tattenham Way Allotments, Banstead

Continuing excavation and fieldwalking by Plateau recovered further finds of worked flint of Lower Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age date, while pottery dating to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval periods was also found. A large Neolithic or Bronze Age leaf-shaped arrowhead and a probable Bronze Age pendant were among the finds. Features on the site included a probable late Roman farmstead enclosure, and a Mesolithic tree-throw pit shelter with rubbish pit.

Banstead Heath landscape survey

Survey undertaken under the direction of C Currie of CKCA, as part of the Community Archaeology Project for SCC and SyAS, to assess whether the study area was suitable for designation as an ASHLV. Both documentary research and fieldwork added greatly to existing knowledge of the area, and highlighted the presence of a range of archaeological remains dating from the Palaeolithic through to the Second World War.

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