Fairyland Caravan Park, Riverway, Laleham, Surrey,
TQ 0454 6948; (Robin Taylor-Wilson); evaluation; 16-20 December 1996; Crest Homes (Southern) Limited; LAL96
The site, is located to the east of the confluence of the River Thames with Sweep's
Ditch. The earliest deposits were alluvial and associated with Sweep's Ditch. The site was
occupied during the Late Bronze Age, the Late Pre-Roman Iron Age and during the Roman
period.
The earliest human activity was represented by a substantial boundary ditch. This
feature may have been dug in order to demarcate marginal land on the west side of the
site. from higher ground to the east. Tile initial phase of this ditch may, on limited
evidence, date to the Late Bronze Age. This was followed by an overbank event on the
southwest side of the site. The boundary ditch was re-established by re-cutting along the
same alignment. This appears to have taken place during the Late Pre-Roman Iron Age. Of a
similar date was part of a curvilinear enclosure ditch which again appears to have
delineated a land boundary. It appears that during the century prior to the Claudian
invasion the site was being utilized by a rural farming community. Further flooding of the
southwestern part of the site took place, probably later during the Late Pre-Roman Iron
Age. Farming activities continued, during the Roman period as several features of this
date were encountered. These consisted of two ditches, probably relating to a field system
and a large pit. The latter contained general domestic refuse, suggesting that the site is
located close to Roman settlement activity. Another ditch and a handful of other features
including groups of stakeholes and postholes representing evidence of post-built structures,
may also have been Roman in origin. Between the Roman and the Post-Medieval periods the
site apparently lay under pasture allowing the development of a distinct soil horizon
which sealed the evidence of previous phases of landuse. The highest level of natural
deposits was at 13.58m OD and consisted of a brickearth overlying sand and gravels.
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