the archaeology of the Walton reach of the Thames

My niece the archaeologist gave a talk on this last night: another winter entertainment at the Valley. She is employed by Surrey CC to map the archaeological sites in the county.

1. the river used to be all over the place and did not stay snugly in its bed: the river to start with was more of a wide wet patch with islands and mudbanks in. The earliest finds in the area are, of course, flints, some of them smooth and polished.

2. During the Bronze Age, when the climate was so nice, people made fine bronze tools and axes and threw them in the river. A number of these have been found. Alex can't understand this - it has been explained as a ritual but she is not convinced-

Bronze age tools

Super weather these days.

3. During the Iron Age there was a hill fort on the next upstream reach (St Anne's Hill) and one on St George's Hill, where some iron age pottery was found. It was believed that Caesar camped there on his invasion into England. This is announced proudly on a Victorian map - Caesar's Camp - but there is no evidence for this and he is more likely to have crossed the river at Staines than at Walton.

From the St' George's Hill Residents' association website:

Much has been written about security on the estate. It was the need for security that has left evidence of some of the earliest known residents on what is now St George’s Hill.

In the area comprising parts of Camp End Road, Horseshoe Ridge and Tor Lane there are the remains of an iron age hill fort covering some 13 ½ acres (5.5 hectares). This is evidenced by the remains of a ditch and ramparts which at one time would have been some 23ft (7m) high. The reason for the defences was the need for protection against emerging elite who were wishing to establish their own territories and to create early kingdoms. It appears to have been quite an advanced community, with evidence of iron smelting found.

Today the site is designated an ancient monument by English Heritage and is protected by law. The protection covers the entire site including the ground under the existing houses. There are severe penalties for anyone causing damage to the site. English Heritage has contacted this Association expressing concern over the increased rate at which damage and erosion is affecting the site.

The Association is proud of this site and we would ask everyone whose house stands within the site to liaise with English Heritage before any works are carried out that would potentially damage the archaeology.

Part of the earthworks can easily be seen from Camp End Road between Caesars Cottage and Hevesta on the west side of the road. These are the remains of part of the ditch. If you would like to find out more you should visit Elmbridge Museum, which is above the library in Weybridge.

4. Cowey Sale, a meadow by the river, was once called Cowey Stakes, and there was an avenue of very large (over 6 ft tall) stakes in the river there - dating from ? and Alex believes they were some kind of fish trap! It was a very major fish trap.

The Anglo-Saxon historian Bede asserts remains of stakes were seen in his day, each as large as a man's thigh and covered with lead. Formed of the entire bodies of young oak trees. Wood so hardened as to resemble ebony could be polished. Each about 6 foot long. Stood in 2 rows as if going across river. 9ft apart as water runs, 4 ft apart crossing the river. The Ford crosses the stream in a circuitous direction so the stakes cross it twice.
(From the Elmbridge Museum website, which is very badly written, by a stranger to grammatical fundamentals.)

 The stakes were taken away to be analysed and put in museums.  Read here:  an old book tells the local belief that these were the remains of Caesar's bridge.

5. The most consistent settlement in the area seems to have been at Staines Road farm, Shepperton, where finds have dated from a long period of time, and include an iron age burial of a 40 + woman, complete.