Series: PRO Archaeology Services unpublished report series

PRO Archaeology Services (PAS) were commissioned by Independence Homes Ltd to undertake an archaeological watching brief during ground works (i.e. topsoil stripping, footing and service trenches) for three new terraced houses, parking area and a five bedroom detached house (Planning Ref: 2014/384) at Harestone Drive, Caterham, Surrey. No archaeological features or finds were discovered on the site.

An archaeological evaluation involving the supervised mechanical excavation of a single trial trench was carried out by PRO Archaeology Services in advance of the construction of a two storey building comprising four two bedroom flats, vehicular access and associated parking (Planning Ref: 11/01111/P) at 1a Bynes Road, Croyden, CR2 OPY (NGR 532660 163333). The evaluation trench revealed a stratigraphic sequence of natural geology overlaid by leached clay silt, buried topsoil and made ground deposits. A single 20th century wall footing was identified at the southern end of the trench. No archaeological deposits or features were identified within the evaluation trench.

A pre-determination archaeological evaluation was conducted by PRO Archaeology Services in advance of the proposed construction of five new single residential dwellings with garaging and associated access driveways. Three twenty metre long trenches were positioned over the areas of the proposed new dwellings during early April 2013. Trench 1 revealed a late medieval ditch and trenches 2 and 3 revealed a ditch, pit and gully, which were probably associated with medieval settlement suspected across the site. The features were sealed beneath a simple stratigraphic sequence of subsoil overlain by ploughsoil (total depth c. 0.70m).

A pre-determination archaeological evaluation was conducted by PRO Archaeology Services in advance of the proposed construction of three new single residential dwellings with garaging and associated access driveways. Three ten metre long trenches were positioned over the areas of the proposed new dwellings. Trench 1 revealed medieval archaeological features probably associated with medieval settlement suspected across the western portion of the site. The features were sealed beneath a simple stratigraphic sequence across the site of (total depth c. 0.60m). Trenches 2 and 3 revealed no archaeological features. The impact of the proposed development on the archaeological resource is discussed within this report to aid determination of any planning condition. A confidence rating is high that the best possible results were achieved.

An archaeological watching brief was conducted by PRO Archaeology Services in advance of the construction of a six storey building comprising of ground floor offices and 39 self contained flats on the upper floors, with additional basement parking (Planning Ref: B/0247/11) at 1230 High Road, Whetstone, Barnet N20 0LR. The watching brief followed a desk based assessment (MoLAS 2008) and involved four site visits during the first week of October 2012. The footprint of the new basement was reduced to the uppermost surface of the natural clay, recorded at varying heights ranging from 94.72m AOD across the eastern side of the site to 94.19m AOD across the western side. A series of modern intrusions, including live services and remnants of the known demolished modern building which previously fronted the High Road were encountered. No archaeological features or finds were discovered.

An archaeological watching brief involving the hand excavation of two footing trenches was carried out by Deon Whittaker on behalf of PRO Archaeology Services in advance of the construction of a proposed extension at. 19, The Dymocks, Ditchling, East Sussex. The archaeological investigation was carried out at the development site on the 30th of June and the 7th of July 2010. The watching brief revealed a simple sequence of a modern topsoil deposit overlying a natural horizon composed of Greensand deposits. No significant archaeological features, structures and/or deposits were identified and no finds were made.

PRO Archaeology Services were commissioned by clients to undertake archaeological observation and recording (or 'watching brief') at 337-339 Acton Lane, Ealing, London, W3 8NU (hereafter 'the Site') in accordance with a GLAAS approved Written Scheme of Investigation. PRO Archaeology monitored the excavation of ground beam trenches between the concrete piles on the 30th June 2015. The ground reduction did not impact beyond modern made ground deposits. After one day on site it was decided to cease the investigation as there was no threat to the truncation of any archaeological features or finds. No archaeological features or finds have been discovered on the site.

Between 22nd January and 12th February 2013 PRO Archaeology undertook an archaeological watching brief involving five separate site visits at 67 Manor Road, Lancing (NGR: TQ 1815 0557). The work was commissioned by Cranford Construction and Developments. The site was subject to an archaeological evaluation in 2008 which was undertaken by Chris Butler Archaeological Services. This revealed the first evidence for medieval settlement within Lancing. The results suggested that medieval settlement started in the 12th to mid 13th century, continuing through to the 14th century. The evaluation identified two main elements. An east-west orientated ditch which ran parallel to Manor Road, and interpreted as the rear boundary to house plots fronting onto Manor Road; and a number of rubbish pits. The Watching Brief identified four further pits, one of which was post-medieval as well as the ditch originally identified in the evaluation. Due to the drop in levels from Manor Road to the site it was not necessary to reduce the northern edge of the site as previously intended, but rather to make it up. Therefore the area deemed most archaeologically significant fronting onto Manor Road was not subject to investigation. The Watching Brief has revealed a further background scatter of features identified with back yard activity. These pits are likely to be associated with rubbish disposal, which supports the conclusions of the previous evaluation. It was not possible to establish whether the ditch [112] was a rear boundary to medieval properties fronting onto Manor Road due to the limited scope of the service trench which cut across it, and the fact that the surrounding area was not reduced as originally planned.

PRO Archaeology Services (PAS) were commissioned by Tom Norris of Selected Plants to undertake a post-planning determination archaeological watching brief at Selected Plants, Ismays Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent during ground works for a new nursery managers dwelling (TM/13/01912/FL). Four site visits were made during March and April 2014. The monitored ground reduction across the footprint of the new build, wall footing and service trenches did not reveal any archaeological features or finds. The site was subject to high water levels and flooding during the works.

An archaeological evaluation was conducted by PRO Archaeology Services in advance of the construction of new single residential dwelling with garaging and associated access driveways. One ten metre long trench was positioned over the area of the proposed new build. The trench revealed a series of post-medieval clay silt deposits which probably infilled a medieval clay extraction pit. A sondage excavated at the north-western end of the trench revealed the deposits reached a total depth of 1.8m (33.83m AOD). The deposits make up the ground level compared to Moat Lane and were probably imported materials from a series of differing activities over a long period of time. There were post-medieval tiles collected throughout the trench, but surprisingly no pottery sherds, found alongside some evidence of kiln rake out, perhaps from an unknown tile kiln located close to the site. A confidence rating is high that the best possible results were achieved.