Surrey Archaeological Society

Watching brief by C Clarke of AOC revealed evidence of a robbed-out wall foundation running parallel to Bell Street. Although no dating evidence was present the location corresponds to the suggested location of the former priory buildings. A gravel path, garden features and a modern culvert were also recorded.

Watching brief by G Dawkes and S Stevens of ASE revealed clear evidence of substantial earthmoving in the area, probably associated with other building work at the site, but no finds or features of archaeological interest.

An archaeological evaluation by G Anelay of WSA revealed two tree-throw hollows and a scattering of medieval to modern artefacts, but no features of archaeological interest.

Evaluation by I Hogg of ASE revealed a single post-medieval pit or ditch terminal and confirmed that much of the north and centre of the site had been disturbed during the construction and subsequent demolition of the former building.

Evaluation by D Bray of TVAS. Previous work in the 1950s identified medieval structural remains related to the manor of Preston Hawe. Despite the known archaeological potential of the site there was no evidence of archaeological deposits or artefacts. It would therefore appear that following the original archaeological investigations the area was horizontally truncated and all archaeological material removed.

Evaluation by T Munnery of SCAU revealed residual Mesolithic and Neolithic flintwork, a number of probable Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age ditches and medieval or post-medieval quarry/dene holes. The character of the ditches suggests they form part of a field system rather than a settlement enclosure.

Evaluation by A Taylor of TVAS identified a single ditch at the western end of the site dating to the Late Iron Age/Early Roman period, which could possibly be related to the first phase of the Scheduled villa complex to the west of the site (a ‘pre-villa phase’).

Evaluation by W Weller of the SCAU, adjacent to the Scheduled villa excavated by A W G Lowther, recovered large floor or wall tiles, samian pottery and a mortarium of Gaulish origin from subsoils and spoil heaps. A small number of pits and postholes, of probable1st–4th century date were revealed.

A topographic survey by R Hooker and J Newell for the Prehistoric Group of SyAS recorded an earthwork formed of a broad shallow ditch, to the south of a wide low bank. The bank had a series of protuberances on its north side. Towards the east they were regularly spaced at about 8–10m intervals. The feature presently measures c 450m in length but was probably truncated at its eastern end, without recording, by the construction of the M25. (Bulletin 446)

Evaluation and subsequent excavation by G Dawkes of ASE along the c17km route, from Buckland Pumping Station in the west to the Outwood Reservoir in the east. Two sites of particular archaeological significance were identified: a prehistoric and Roman site in the vicinity of Buckland village, immediately south of the A25, and a medieval site located to the north of Buckland, adjacent to Glebe House on Rectory Lane.