The archaeological work was carried out between 21 November and 8 December 1989 by a team working for the Countryside & Heritage Section, Planning Department, Surrey County Council, under the leadership of Rob Poulton. The work was kindly funded by the County Engineer’s Department. Work began while the final stages of dismantling were in progress and liaison and discussion with Richard Harris and other members of the Weald and Downland Museum team were invaluable.

The principal results of the excavation may be briefly summarised. No original floor levels for the 16th century building survived, but immediately below the later floors, finds of pottery were almost exclusively of 16th century date. This rather suggests that earthen floors in which broken pottery could accumulate were replaced by more solid floors at an early stage in the life of the building. At the service bay end, substantial proportions of several vessels were recovered, some in a small pit. Pottery of this date is not well dated, so that when, in due course, a precise dendroehronological date for the building is obtained it will be of considerable interest for students of the period.

The building was constructed on the pronounced slope of Holloway Hill. In order to accommodate this the outer sill walls were constructed first, starting from the existing ground surface. Those at the bottom end of the slope had a wide base and were made narrower as they got higher: it was unclear, although probable, whether those at the top end of the slope were cut into the ground. At the north

(lower) end, sand was then used to level up the ground within the outer walls to the level of the base of the internal partition walls, which were then in turn constructed. Further levelling then took place to produce an even ground surface. Although the partition walls were therefore open to subsidence, and even the exterior walls were of no great stability (some collapse and crude repair was observed), this was presumably of little moment in a timber- framed building, and the contrast with the much deeper and more carefully built foundations for the brick chimney was very evident.

In the garden to the rear of the building, excavations revealed few features of interest. Immediately behind the building there was much 16th century and early 17th century pottery, but comparatively little later domestic material. Presumably after that date more careful arrangements were made for disposal of refuse, perhaps in pits near the rear of the plot, which was truncated in modern times.

An interesting and unexpected discovery was of a layer which contained pottery of 12th century date. This was found only at the north end of the site and was sealed by up to 80 cm thickness of hillwash. It seems most likely that this was the tail-end of an occupation spread from buildings fronting onto the High Street, as there was no other material of this or other pre-l6th century date on the site itself, where the recently dismantled structure seems to have been the earliest occupation. If this interpretation is correct it has interesting implications for the early development and topography

of Godalming. The thickness of hiliwash is interesting and was observed elsewhere on the site: it may be that relatively rapid accumulation resulted from deforestation, perhaps associated with medieval quarrying of Bargate stone, further up the hill.

Overall this was a valuable and informative piece of work, which emphasises once again the importance of ensuring that the potential destruction of the evidence for our past which lies below ground is properly considered in planning all new developments, including new roads.

0

4

metres

with back above. Left: Plan of the cottages. Hatched areas original; black area 17th century addition; outl;ined areas modern.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION

CONTEXT 29

33