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

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.