Long Grove Road, Epsom

Project type: Excavation

An excavation was undertaken in 2003 by Archaeology South-East as a condition of the planning permission for the construction of a new school. A total of 14 trenches 20 metres long were excavated down to below the underlying natural deposit horizon. They revealed archaeological remains relating to the Mid-Late Bronze Age occupation of the area.

There was good evidence of the initial clearance of trees and scrub from the land of followed by the imposition of a ditch system, almost certainly representing fields and animal droveways. These fields are likely to be similar to the very extensive systems identified further north on the Thames gravel terraces. The Long Grove Road excavations have provided some of the first evidence of their existence this far south. Several pits of a similar date also suggest that there may be a settlement in the near vicinity.

Project Officer: Jim Stevenson
Client: Surrey County Council
Project type: Excavation