Surrey Archaeological Society

Monitoring by J Powell of WA during geotechnical works revealed the limits to a former landfill site, and burnt flint and post-medieval artefacts within topsoil. …………………………..

Community excavation by SyAS and SCAU, under the direction of R Poulton, of the Scheduled moated site. Foundations belonging to the medieval manor, including part of the great hall, were uncovered, and coins recovered indicate that the site was established by the early 13th century. The property was later occupied by Lady Margaret Beaufort before her son, Henry VII, decided in 1503 to develop the site into a palace. Evidence of this period was revealed in the form of foundations of an oriel window of the new great hall, begun in 1508.

A magnetometry survey carried out in September 2009 by members of SyAS in a paddock referred to in the 18th and 19th centuries as Brickhill and Brick Kiln Field revealed strong, largely rectangular, anomalies. An initial test-pit down to the top of surviving archaeological layers suggested that the anomalies were due to areas much affected by heat. Later work in the following year suggested these were the remains of substantial rectangular brick clamps of probably medieval date.

Excavation and watching brief undertaken by R Brown of OA in advance of the creation of a swimming pool and related amenities revealed mostly modern deposits, but a rectilinear arrangement of postholes may represent the remains of a simple timber building of possible 16th–17th century date. This may have been a temporary storage or lodging structure associated with the construction of the manor-house or the domestic functions of the west wing. A Kelly of OA also undertook some historic building recording work before and during alterations to Sutton Place

A watching brief by T Munnery of SCAU, following the evaluation of the site in 1996 that revealed possible medieval features, did not reveal any further finds or features of archaeological interest.

Historic building recording by S Lilley of AOC prior to conversion. The structure was recorded and assessed as dating to the mid-17th century, although the presence of a medieval down brace suggests re-use of materials from an earlier structure. Evidence for a substantial fire within the structure at some point in its history was also catalogued.

Evaluation by C Clarke of AOC indicated that the archaeological horizons in those areas tested had in the main avoided groundworks associated with the modern development of the site, but the evaluation did not identify any deposits of significance, with a small shallow pit of post-medieval date being the only feature revealed.

Monitoring and recording by J McNicoll-Norbury of TVAS during soil stripping for a quarry extension. A number of small pits, three of which were Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age in date, and a (probable boundary) ditch tentatively dated to the Middle or Late Bronze Age, were revealed and excavated. The pits are considered to represent one or more occupation site(s), and analysis of environmental deposits within one of the datable pits revealed that it was located in a landscape of rough grassland with some scrub.

Rapid walkover by Mouchel Heritage along the 28km route of a proposed replacement pipeline between Godstone and Tonbridge in Kent, undertaken to contribute to the assessment of the archaeological implications of the proposed pipeline. Monitoring of test pits by M Collings to examine the impact caused by the laying of the existing pipeline revealed that it is likely there was minimal impact outside the cut of the pipe trench.