Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey

An Archaeological Evaluation

for Bewley Homes Plc

by Andrew Weale and Danielle Milbank

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code PMA 09/90

October 2009

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Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47–49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR

Tel. (0118) 926 0552; Fax (0118) 926 0553; email tvas@tvas.co.uk; website: www.tvas.co.uk

Summary

Site name: Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey Grid reference: TQ1820 5772 Site activity: Evaluation Date and duration of project: 16th to 23rd September 2009 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Andrew Weale Site code: PMA 09/90 Area of site: 4.6ha Summary of results: The majority of the site is devoid of archaeological features. Two features (a ditch/gully and pit) in the area of former tennis courts contained pottery of Late Neolithic and/or Bronze Age date. In nearby areas, other undated ditches/gullies by association, are possibly of similar date. Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Bourne Hall Museum in due course. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford 02.10.09 Steve Preston 07.10.09

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Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey An Archaeological Evaluation

by Andrew Weale and Danielle Milbank

Report 09/90

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Parsons Mead School,

Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey (TQ1820 5772) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Josh Williams of

RPS Planning, 1st floor West, Cottons Centre, Cottons Lane, London, SE1 2QG, on behalf of Bewley Homes

Plc, Inhurst House, Brimpton Road, Baughurst, Hampshire RG26 5JJ.

It is proposed to demolish the current school buildings on the site and construct a residential development

of 103 houses, with associated parking and landscaping areas. As a consequence of the possibility of

archaeological deposits on the site which may be damaged or destroyed by development, a field evaluation by

means of machine trenching has been undertaken. The work was carried out to a specification (RPS 2009) which

had been agreed with Mr Gary Jackson of Surrey County Council Heritage Conservation Team. This is in

accordance with the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning

(PPG16 1990), and the Mole Valley District Council’s policies on archaeology. The fieldwork was undertaken

by Andrew Weale and Marta Buczek on the 16th to 23rd September 2009 and the site code is PMA09/90. The

archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Bourne

Hall Museum in due course.

Location, topography and geology

The site is located on the south side of Ottways Lane, near the centre of Ashtead (Fig. 1). The site comprises an

area of 4.6ha on gently sloping land, at c.69m above Ordnance Datum at the south-east, sloping down to c.63m

at the north-west. It is currently occupied by the former school buildings, with playing fields and a swimming

pool (Fig. 2). The underlying geology of the site varies, with Thanet Beds (sand) at the south of the site and

Reading Beds (sand and clay) to the north (BGS 1978). At the east of the site, the underlying geology consists of

Teale gravel, which was encountered in the majority of the trenches.

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Archaeological background

The archaeological potential of the site has been highlighted in a desk-based assessment (RPS 2008). In

summary, the site lies in an area of archaeological interest with Bronze Age and Iron Age features and deposits,

including an Iron Age enclosure, excavated immediately to the west. Further Bronze Age and Iron Age deposits

were recorded to the south. Other finds from the wider area include Mesolithic tranchet axes, Neolithic or early

Bronze Age flint and stone axes, prehistoric pottery, Roman coins and a late Saxon execution cemetery.

Cartographic evidence suggests that the first development on the site itself took place in the mid-19th century.

Objectives and methodology

The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the character, date and function of any archaeological features

within areas of development and to establish the need for a programme (or otherwise) of archaeological

mitigation. The specific research aims of the evaluation were to answer the following questions:

Does the Bronze Age/Iron Age activity identified to the west of the site extend into the Parsons

Mead School site?;

Is there any evidence for the survival of other prehistoric, or later remains on the site?

It was proposed to dig 22 trenches between 10m and 30m long and 1.6m–2m wide, located to target the area of

the proposed development, with a contingency of 20m of trench should this be required to clarify the results of

the initial trenching. Topsoil and other overburden was to be removed by a machine fitted with a toothless

ditching bucket under continuous archaeological supervision. All spoil heaps were to be monitored for finds.

Where archaeological features were certainly or probably present, the stripped areas were to be cleaned using

appropriate hand tools, and sufficient of the archaeological features and deposits exposed were to be excavated

or sampled by hand to satisfy the aims of the brief, without compromising the survival of features which might

be better excavated under full excavation conditions, or warrant preservation in situ.

Results

All 22 trenches were excavated in their intended positions, and all but three to the length intended. They ranged

between 5.2m and 30.5m in length, and were all 1.8m wide. Trench 2 was shortened as a result of an area of

concrete to the north, and a badger protection zone to the south, and Trench 19 was shortened as a result of a live

electricity service. To compensate for this, Trench 11 was extended to the south by an extra 10m. These

adjustments were made with the agreement of the monitor and in discussion with the project consultant.

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For the majority of the trenches the stratigraphy of consisted of topsoil (a grey-brown loam, where present)

0.25m to 0.60m thick, which overlay a mid to dark orange brown sandy silt subsoil which was 0.15m to 0.85m

thick. This in turn overlay orange sand and gravel natural geology, with clay geology and gravel patches in some

trenches. For the remaining trenches, concrete and/or Tarmac overlay various deposits of made ground above

subsoil with only one trench showing that made ground directly overlay the natural geology.

A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is

given in Appendix 1. Trenches in which features were encountered are described in detail below. A list of

features forms Appendix 2.

Trench 5 (Figs 4 and 5) This trench was aligned SE–NW. It was 29.4m long and 0.50m deep. The stratigraphy encountered comprised

topsoil 0.30m thick, which overlay orange/brown sandy silt subsoil 0.20m thick, with occasional chalk

inclusions. This in turn overlay orange sand and gravel geology.

An irregular oval pit (1) was recorded, which was 1.1m wide and 1.3m long. It was 0.13m deep, with shallow

sloping sides and a concave base, and contained a mid brown silty sand deposit (52) which contained frequent

flint inclusions and two fragments of brick and tile (17g) with a broadly medieval or (more likely ) post-

medieval date.

Trench 11 (Figs 4 and 5; Plate 3) This trench was aligned SE–NW. It was 15.4m long and 0.50m deep. The stratigraphy encountered comprised

topsoil 0.35m thick, which overlay light brown orange sandy silt subsoil which was 0.15m thick. This in turn

overlay light brown sand and gravel geology.

A ditch or gully (6) was aligned east–west across the trench and was 1m wide and 0.26m deep. The sides

sloped evenly to a flattish base, and it was infilled with a single fill (57) a reddish grey/brown silty sand with

occasional flint inclusions and burnt flint but no datable finds. It is possible that this is a continuation of ditch 2

in trench 15.

Trench 15 (Figs 4 and 5; Plates 2 and 4) This trench was aligned SE–NW and was 20.4m long and 0.85m deep. The stratigraphy encountered comprised

Tarmac 0.12m thick, which overlay a buried topsoil 0.17m thick, which overlay dark brown silt subsoil 0.56m

thick. This in turn overlay dark orange sandy clay and gravel geology.

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A gully or ditch (2) aligned west–east was observed to truncate the natural geology. It was 0.90m wide and

0.15m deep, with sloping sides and a concave base. It was infilled with a single deposit (53) which comprised

soft, dark brown silty clay with occasional gravel inclusions. A total of 14 sherds of pottery (30g) of Neolithic or

Bronze Age date were recovered from this feature. It is possible that this is a continuation of ditch 6 in Trench

11.

An oval pit (3), which was 0.66m wide and 0.90m long was also excavated in this trench. It was 0.28m

deep, with steeply sloping sides and a concave base, and was infilled with a reddish brown silty clay deposit with

occasional gravel (54). This contained eight fragments (4g) of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age pottery.

Trench 16 (Figs 4 and 5) Trench 16 was also aligned SE–NW. It was 21m long and 0.90m deep overall. Here, Tarmac and scalpins 0.30m

thick overlay a topsoil layer which was 0.15m thick. This in turn overlay brown silty clay subsoil, which was

0.45m thick. This in turn overlay orange sandy clay with some gravel geology.

Two parallel linear features (4 and 5) were observed in this trench, aligned SW–NE and both with gently

sloping sides and concave bases. Gully 4 was 0.70m wide, 0.15m deep, and was infilled with a grey brown silty

clay deposit (55) with occasional gravel. Gully 5 was 1m wide and 0.25m deep, with a reddish brown silty clay

fill (56) which contained moderate flint inclusions. No finds were recovered from these gullies.

Finds

Pottery and ceramic building material by Frances Raymond

A few sherds of prehistoric pottery were recovered from two features in Trench 15 (Appendix 3). All are lightly

to moderately abraded wall sherds with relatively few chronologically distinctive traits.

The largest group came from ditch 2, and given the small size of the assemblage and its abraded condition,

it is not absolutely certain that all of the sherds are contemporary. The most diagnostic is from a Peterborough

Ware vessel decorated with a row of short crescentic impressions made using an implement of uncertain type.

The ends of two twisted cord impressions are additionally visible close to one of the fractures, but the sherd is far

too small to determine its orientation, or to allow for a reconstruction of the motifs and design. It is made from a

coarse sandy unoxidized ware tempered with sparse burnt flint (up to 6mm). Two wall sherds and one split wall

fragment in a fine micaceous sandy fabric, also tempered with sparse burnt flint (up to 5mm), are either of earlier

Neolithic origin or may have been used for another Peterborough Ware vessel. Without any evidence for form or

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decoration it is not possible to determine which is the most probable. Single wall sherds from two other vessels

are additionally present. One is in a grog tempered fabric that may conceivably have been used for a Fengate

Ware vessel, but is more probably part of a Beaker or early Bronze Age urn. The other is made from a medium

grade sandy fabric incorporating moderate amounts of unevenly distributed burnt flint (up to 4mm). This could

well be of Neolithic origin, but wares of this type were also produced during the late Bronze Age. The fragments

of pottery from pit 3 are in a similar fabric, which again would be equally consistent in the ceramic repertoires of

the Neolithic period or the late Bronze Age.

The two fragments of ceramic building material from the pit in Trench 5 (pit 1) are both heavily abraded.

The tile could be of medieval or early post-medieval origin, but the brick fragment is more certainly of post-

medieval character.

Conclusion

Overall, the stratigraphy encountered in the trenches was relatively uniform, with a consistent subsoil layer

which overlay natural geology. Modern truncation was present in several small isolated patches, usually

associated with redundant services, but the sand and gravel geology was largely undisturbed and provided good

conditions for archaeological deposits to have survived.

A small volume of archaeology was recorded for the site. A small isolated pit containing brick and tile can

be dated to no earlier than the medieval period but is more probably of recent origin.. However, more deposits

were revealed in a limited zone on the eastern side of the main school buildings. Two of these features contained

pottery of Late Neolithic and/or Early Bronze Age date and, with due consideration of the possibility that this

material is residual, it seems more likely that the pottery provides a date for these features. In nearby areas, one

ditch/gully by extrapolation and two other ditches/gullies by association are possibly of similar date.

It is considered therefore that the majority of the development site examined has little or no archaeological

potential except for the small zone (centred on Trenches 11, 15 and 16) on the eastern side of the former building

complex.

References

BGS, 1978, British Geological Survey, 1:50,000, Sheet 286, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth RPS, 2008, ‘Proposed Residential Development at Parsons Mead School, Ashtead, Surrey an archaeological

desk-based assessment’, RPS Planning and Development, project JLJ0212RO1, London RPS, 2009, ‘Proposed Residential Development at Parsons Mead School, Ashtead, Surrey, archaeological

written scheme of investigation’, RPS Planning and Development, project JLK0404RO1, London PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, DoE Planning Policy Guidance 16, (HMSO)

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APPENDIX 1: Trench details

0m at S or W end

Trench Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment 1 30.5 1.8 0.80 0–0.40m topsoil; 0.40-0.80m orange brown silty sand subsoil with clay

patches; 0.80m+ natural orange brown sand and gravel geology. 2 5.2 1.8 1.45 0–0.60m topsoil; 0.60-1.45m orange brown silty subsoil; 1.45m+ natural sand

and gravel geology. 3 19.2 1.8 0.60 0–0.25m topsoil, 0.25m-0.60m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.60m+ natural sand

and gravel geology. 4 19.7 1.8 0.50 0–0.35m topsoil; 0.35m-0.50m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.50m+ natural sand

and gravel geology. 5 29.4 1.8 0.50 0–0.30m topsoil; 0.30m-0.50m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.50m+ natural sand

with gravel patches geology. Pit 1 6 28.8 1.8 0.50 0–0.25m topsoil; 0.25m-0.50m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.50m+ natural sand

with gravel patches geology. [Plate 1] 7 20.6 1.8 0.60 0–0.30m topsoil; 0.30m-0.60m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.60m+ natural sand

geology. 8 29.8 1.8 0.60 south end, 0–0.30m topsoil; north end 0–0.30m Tarmac and hardcore: both then

0.30m-0.60m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.60m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

9 29.4 1.8 0.65 0–0.40m topsoil; 0.40m-0.65m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.65m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

10 20.4 1.8 0.70 0–0.50m Tarmac and hardcore; 0.50m-0.70m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.70m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

11 15.4 1.8 0.50 0–0.35m topsoil; 0.35m-0.50m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.50m+ natural sand and gravel geology. Ditch 6. [Plate 3]

12 15.3 1.8 0.50 0–0.30m topsoil; 0.30m-0.50m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.50m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

13 10.7 1.8 0.45 0–0.30m topsoil; 0.30m-0.45m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.45m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

14 29.3 1.8 1.17 0–0.20m Tarmac and scalpins; 0.20-0.60m topsoil; 0.60m-1.17m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.80m+ natural sand geology.

15 20.4 1.8 0.85 0–0.12m Tarmac and scalpins; 0.12m-0.29m topsoil; 0.29-0.85m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.85m+ natural sandy clay geology. Ditch 2 and pit 3. [Plates 2 and 4]

16 21 1.8 0.90 0–0.30m Tarmac and scalpins; 0.30m-0.45m topsoil; 0.45-0.90m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.85m+ natural gravelly sand geology. Ditches 4 and 5.

17a 21.7 1.8 0.80 0–0.20m Tarmac and hardcore; 0.20m-0.30m topsoil; 0.30-0.80m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.80m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

17b 4.5 1.8 0.80 0–0.20m Tarmac and hardcore; 0.20m-0.30m topsoil; 0.30-0.80m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.805m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

18 28.2 1.8 0.80 0–0.20m Tarmac and hardcore; 0.20m-0.40m topsoil; 0.40-0.80m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.85m+ natural sandy gravel geology.

19 12 1.8 0.55 0–0.30m Tarmac and topsoil; 0.30m-0.55m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.55m+ natural gravel geology.

20 20 1.8 0.90 0–0.45m topsoil; 0.45m-0.90m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.90m+ natural sand geology.

21 15.5 1.8 0.62 0–0.35m topsoil; 0.35m-0.57m orange brown silty subsoil; 0.57m+ natural gravelly sand geology.

22 29 1.8 1.10 0–0.08m Tarmac; 0.08-0.16m scalpins; 0.16-0.50m chalky made ground; 0.50-1.10m made ground; 1.10m+ natural sand and gravel geology.

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APPENDIX 2: Feature details

Trench Cut Fill (s) Type Date Dating evidence 5 1 52 pit Medieval or later Tile 15 2 53 Ditch/gully Late Neolithic/ Bronze Age Pottery 15 3 54 Pit Neolithic/Bronze Age Pottery 16 4 55 Ditch/gully - 16 5 56 Ditch/gully - 11 6 57 Ditch/gully Late Neolithic/ Bronze Age? Same as 2 in trench 15?

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APPENDIX 3: Catalogue of pottery and ceramic building material

Trench Cut Deposit No. Wt. (g.) Date Description 5 1 52 1 13 Medieval/ early post-medieval Tile fragment 5 1 52 1 4 Post-medieval Brick fragment 15 2 53 1 6 Late Neolithic Decorated wall sherd 15 2 53 3 7 Neolithic Wall and split wall sherds 15 2 53 1 4 Late Neolithic or early Bronze Age Wall sherd 15 2 53 1 9 Neolithic or late Bronze Age Wall sherd 15 3 54 8 4 Neolithic or late Bronze Age Wall and split wall sherds

TOTALS 16 47

Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, 2009

Archaeological Evaluation

Figure 1. Location of site within Ashtead and Surrey.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 146 at 1:12500Ordnance Survey Licence 100025880

58000

TQ17000 18000 19000

SITE

PMA 09/90

SITE

57000

59000

Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, 2009

Archaeological Evaluation

Figure 2. Detail of site.

Scale: 1:2500

57800

TQ18000 18100 18200 18300 18400

SITE

PMA 09/90

57600

57700

PMA 09/90Figure 3. Positions of the evaluation trenches and excavated features.

0 100m

N

Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, 2009

TQ18000 18100 18200 18300

57600

57700

57800

12

3 4

5

67

8

910

11

12

13

14

1516

17B

19

202122

17A

18

1

623

45

PMA 09/90Figure 4. Trench plans

0 5m

N

NN

N

Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, 2009

Trench 5

1

10m 12m

Trench 15

2

3

18m 20m

Trench 16

45

13m 16m

Trench 11

6

2m 5m

PMA 09/90Figure 5. Sections

0 1m

Parsons Mead School, Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, 2009

1

52

SE NW

2

53

NW SE

3

54

SW NE

4

55

NW SE

5

56

NW SE

6

Topsoil

Subsoil

57

SE NW

Plate 1. Trench 6, looking east ; horizontal scales, 2m and 1m, vertical scale 0.3m.

Plate 2. Trench 15, looking north-west; horizontal scales, 2m and 1m, vertical scales 0.3m

PMA 09/90

Plate 3. Trench 11, ditch 6, looking south-west, scale 0.5m.

Plate 4. Trench 15, pit 3, looking north-west; scales, 1m and 0.3m

PMA 09/90