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The Occupation of Sandown Park, Esher, during the Stone Age, the Early Iron Age, and the Anglo-Saxon Period

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2012

J. P. T. Burchell  and
Sheppard Frere
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Extract

The advent of the recent war put a complete stop to those archaeological investigations which were either in hand or for which plans had already been made.

Nevertheless, it is true to say that, as a direct result of the war, many archaeological sites were discovered and excavated which otherwise would have remained unnoticed or undug. A good example of such a case is afforded in the present instance.

Peace-time racegoers are well familiar with the large tree-clad hill which dominates the course at Sandown Park, Esher, and is known as the Warren. This hill is flat-topped and rises steeply more than 100 ft. above the river Mole, having its highest point at 165 ft. above O.D. (fig. I).

The core of the hill is composed of Bagshot Sand and, as a consequence, erosion has had a free hand in the past whenever the cloak of vegetation has been absent. The topmost portion of the hill still retains a thin veneer of Plateau Gravel amounting, in places, to 2 ft. 6 in. in thickness.

The timber and undergrowth which to-day cover the whole of the hill and the entire absence of any surface indications made the area seem a most unprofitable site to dig into.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 27 , Issue 1-2 , April 1947 , pp. 24 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1947

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References

page 37 note 1 I have to thank Mr. W. F. Grimes for discussing this point with me.

page 37 note 2 The Early Iron Age Inhabited Site at All Cannings Cross Farm, Wilts., Cunnington, 1923.

page 39 note 1 Now republished by Lowther, A. W. G., Proc. Prehist. Soc. xi, 1945, 37, fig. 4, 4.Google Scholar

page 41 note 1 The diameter of 39a is perhaps ½ in wider than figured; the pieces, however, are clearly from a single pot.

page 43 note 1 See Dr.Wheeler's, R. E. M. distribution map, Maiden Castle (1943), 191.Google Scholar

page 44 note 1 Antiq. Journ. xxii, 129.

page 44 note 2 Especially nos. 2, 15, 32, 33, 39.

page 44 note 3 Sussex Arch. Colls, lxxx, 217–62.

page 44 note 4 Sussex Arch. Colls, lxxxi, 173–203.

page 44 note 5 See inter alia, Oxoniensia, vii, 36–60; Records of Bucks, xiv, iv, 189–209; Arch. Journ. c, 188–223.

page 44 note 6 e.g. Dorchester, Victoria County Hist. Oxon. i, pl. xi, c.

page 44 note 7 Arch. Journ. c, 206, Ji, Ki.

page 45 note 1 Oxoniensia, vii, 40, 44.

page 45 note 2 Radley, Cf., Antiq. journ. xi, 401Google Scholar; Eynsham, etc., Oxoniensia, vii, 55.

page 46 note 1 Surrey Arch. Soc., Farnham Volume (1939), 207, accepted as haematite in Maiden Castle, 1933, and Antiq. Journ. xxii, 130–1.

page 46 note 2 Antiq. Journ. xxii, 131.

page 46 note 3 Excavated 1945; small sherd here mentioned by kind permission of Mr. W. F. Grimes, F.S.A.

page 46 note 4 Now published as fig. 3, 46 in his paper, Proc. Prehist. Soc. xi, 1945, 32–8.Google Scholar

page 46 note 5 Antiq. Journ. xxii, 126.

page 46 note 6 Ibid. 132.