Surrey Archaeological Society

Evaluation by C Mason of BaRAS revealed an undated posthole, an undated ditch, and a modern pathway. The ditch follows the line of a former field boundary, present on historic maps and surviving as a line of mature trees extending out of the site, but undiagnostic struck and burnt flint recovered from its fill could indicate it is of some antiquity.

Evaluation by J Cook of ASE revealed a concentration of undated and/or natural features within one of the trenches. Further work is being undertaken.

Geophysical Survey by B Urmston of WA over an area of 19.1 hectares demonstrated the presence of linear and discrete pit-like anomalies of probable and possible archaeological interest, including a number relating to a probable relict field system, several probable former field boundaries, and a linear feature which shares an alignment with both an adjacent field boundary but is also on the same orientation as the nearby Stane Street. A possible site of one of the three scheduled barrows in the vicinity was masked by an increased magnetic response representative of made or disturbed ground.

Evaluation by S Wallis of TVAS revealed that the site had been landscaped in the past, although a small shallow pit containing early to mid Saxon pottery and a feature postulated to be a tree hole were revealed, and residual struck flints recovered.

Evaluation by P Martin and S Driscoll of AA (Absolute Archaeology) did not reveal any finds or features of archaeological interest.

Continuation of watching brief by T Mummery of SCAU from evaluation and watching brief in 2010 revealed several pits or ditches of probable late post-medieval date, and a single feature of, perhaps, earlier date, and recovered Mesolithic flintwork and a sherd of Saxon pottery.

Evaluation by H MacQuarrie of AOC in advance of the creation of ponds revealed a ditch whose line respects a redundant field boundary present on the 1842 Ockley Tithe Map, two undated post holes, and an area of in situ burning interpreted as being modern in origin.

Investigation by D Britchfield of WA in advance of the construction of a Motorway Service Area comprising an evaluation to the north of the motorway, and a soil stripping, mapping and sampling exercise to its south in an area where evaluation by ASE in 2007 had revealed possible deposits of prehistoric origin. The soil stripping, mapping and sampling exercise revealed a post-medieval ditch, suggested to be a remnant of an 18th century field system, but no further evidence of the admittedly ambiguous features identified in 2007.

Evaluation by A Hood and D King of FA in advance of the construction of the replacement bridge across the Thames and creation of an associated site compound and flood compensation area to the south-west. The evaluation did not reveal any features of archaeological interest in the area around the bridge, but a 'toothed' wooden artefact was recovered from the interface of the natural gravels and overlying deposits in one of the trenches, and further work is proposed within the area of its discovery.