An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Christ the King, Roman Catholic First School, Falcon Drive, Stanwell, Surrey

The format and contents of this section of the report are an adaptation of the standards outlined in the Institute for Archaeologists' guidance paper for deskbased assessments (IFA 2001). The work has involved the consultation of the available documentary evidence, including records of previous discoveries and historical maps, and has been supplemented with a site walkover. The format of the report is adapted from an Institute for Archaeologists Standard Guidance paper (IFA 2001). In summary, the work has involved: � Identifying the client's objectives � Identifying the cartographic and documentary sources available for consultation � Assembling, consulting and examining those sources � Identifying and collating the results of recent fieldwork � Site walkover The principal sources consulted in assessing this site were: � The Surrey County Historic Environment Record � The Greater London Sites and Monuments Record � The Surrey County Archives � London Metropolitan Archive The Surrey Historic Environment Record and the Greater London Sites and Monuments Record hold details of known archaeological and historical sites in the vicinity of Christ the King RC First School. The information from these two sources is cross-referenced in the gazetteer (Section 7.2). All of the early Ordnance Survey map extracts reproduced in this report are from the originals or microfiche held at the London Metropolitan Archive. There has been no archaeological work carried out at Christ the King RC First School. The assessment of its potential has, therefore, relied on predictive modelling based on the known distribution of remains within a 1000 metre radius of the site (from a central grid reference of TQ 06010 74120). The information about standing historical and listed buildings with the same radius of Christ the King RC First School has also been collated. This has been noted, but no detailed examination of the buildings is reported. The available evidence is derived from casual finds, archaeological investigations, standing buildings and historical records. It should be stressed that the distribution represents the extent of current knowledge and is the product of chance. For this reason, apparently blank zones should not be automatically regarded as being devoid of remains. The assessment of the likely condition of any potential archaeological remains has relied upon a study of the available historical maps and observations made during the site walkover, which provide evidence for the impact of previous land-use on the site. There have been no restrictions on reporting or access to the relevant records. The copyright to the Surrey Historic Environment Record is held by Surrey County Council and the historical maps by London Metropolitan Archive (Figures 11 to 15). The proposal site at Stanwell is located within an area where much prehistoric archaeology of national importance has been found. The complex of Neolithic through to Roman period remains found at Terminal 5 is indicative of the general spread of periods and density of remains which watching briefs, evaluations and excavations have largely revealed in and around Stanwell village. The negative evidence indicates that there have been archaeological interventions in the vicinity of the proposal site. These however cannot be understood to indicate either the presence or absence of archaeological remains within the proposal area. The proposed development is likely to encounter prehistoric archaeology, as there have been a number of finds in the surrounding area. The absence of linear features or ring ditches on aerial photographs does not mean that there is an absence of archaeological remains on a site. Rather, potential remains are more likely to be small discrete features, such as pits or postholes. The dating for such remains extends from the Neolithic until the Roman period.