Archaeological Survey Under Way at Blackwell Farm On Land University Hopes to Develop

Published on: 8 Oct, 2015
Updated on: 9 Oct, 2015

One of the shallow trenches dug by Blackwell Farm for the University of Surrey’s archaeological survey.

An archaeological survey is under way near Blackwell Farm on land the University of Surrey hopes to develop.

A spokesperson for the University of Surrey said: “The university has commissioned a professional independent archaeological study by Archaeology South East which is the commercial contractor of University College London, on land at Blackwell Farm.

“The extent of the study follows a geo-physical survey and has been agreed between Archaeology South East and Surrey County Council’s archaeology advisor.

The survey is extensive – many trenches have been dug by mechanical diggers.

“This is a normal procedure required for any development and relates to this area being proposed as a strategic site by the borough council in its Draft Local Plan, published in May 2014. This survey is being conducted at this time in order to fall between cropping and re-seeding of the land.”

Archaeology South East is understood, in local archaeological circles, to be a well respected organisation, but a local resident has questioned the historical knowledge of the one member of the team conducting the survey.

Ramsey Negaty who lives nearby said: “When I spoke to one of them she was completely unaware of the Roman temples at Wanborough and even the historic Manor Farm, an ancient scheduled monument site, a few hundred yards the other side of the woods.

“I would have thought knowing something of the local history of this area would be an important part of the team’s preparation work.”

Another local resident, and Save Hogs Back campaigner, Karen Stevens said: “We know that this is an area of historical interest. A metal detectorist searching in our garden found a very old coin, which he said was Roman, just laying on the surface, before he even got his detector out.”

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