Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by G Webster of ASE showed that areas of the site had been truncated by former modern buildings and service trenches. The small areas of undamaged stratigraphy revealed no archaeological finds or features.

Watching brief by D Taylor during groundworks to the rear of the properties revealed a deep topsoil and subsoil but no features or finds of archaeological significance

Watching brief by S Porter and J McNicoll-Norbury of TVAS during the excavation of an irrigation lake to the south-west of the multivallate, Iron Age hillfort indicated that the site had been the subject of previous landscaping work, probably during the construction of the golf course removing any archaeological features that may have been present.

Watching brief by M Saywood of SCAU during excavation of foundation trenches within the bounds of the former Oatlands Palace revealed a great depth of heavily disturbed ground from probable ground levelling and a pit containing demolition rubble originating from the palace.

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 should be designated as an ASHLV. Both documentary research and fieldwork added greatly to existing knowledge and confirmed the reports of later 19th century antiquarians who had identified extensive prehistoric and Roman activity in the area.

A fifth and sixth season of a community excavation by the Friends of Woking Palace, SyAS and R Poulton of SCAU. In 2013, a series of early hearths and an oven were recorded within the square medieval kitchen to the west of the extant buildings (tennis play). Archaeomagnetic dating suggests the kitchen belongs to the earliest phase of occupation and was taken out of use in the late 14th to mid-15th century, at which time a substantial new privy kitchen was built that connected to the Privy Lodgings to the south.

Photographic record by C Lacey and P Wardle of The Historic Environment Consultancy and evaluation by P Jorgensen of PCA that confirmed the presence of an undisturbed medieval soil horizon across the site, as revealed in the 2011 SyAS test-pitting (SyAS 98, 257). In the central part of the site this was sealed by a layer of subsoil that produced 17th -18th century material. No features of medieval date were uncovered, but large quantities of later medieval pottery and peg tile fragments suggest a building in the vicinity.

Excavation by R Savage of SyAS on an area of collapsed ground revealed only modern made-ground, with indications of repeated episodes of infilling. A test pit excavated to the north revealed recent levelling. Owing to the depth of deposits, the natural sand/gravel was not reached in either excavation.

Watching brief by M Saywood of SCAU. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed. Within the area of the memorial pool the anticipated former grave cuts were not seen.

Geotechnical watching brief by S Flaherty of WA. No archaeological features were revealed, although a number of test pits suggested undisturbed archaeological horizons may be present.