Woking Palace Archaeological Project 2011
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Back on Site Again - Week One
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Immediately after the Open Days held by the Friends earlier in July,
members of the Woking Palace Archaeological Project started setting up the
headquarters of this season’s excavations, funded by Surrey County Council,
Woking Borough Council and Surrey Archaeological Society.
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Very soon the trenches were being opened. One was prepared for the arrival
of members of the public who were joining the excavations through the “Dig
for a Day” scheme. This is a Community Archaeology programme that offers
those who have not had the chance to experience archaeology in a hands-on
way to try it themselves. They and experienced members of Surrey Archaeological
Society, led by professional archaeologists from Surrey County Council’s
Heritage Enterprises, are contributing to increasing our understanding of
the long development of this nationally important medieval and Tudor site,
located just a mile away from the original town of Woking, now the village
of Old Woking.
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This season the focus is on three areas. The first is where the Gatehouse
is thought to have stood, the second is the range of buildings northwest of
the Tudor Great Hall and finally to the south west of the surviving vaulted
building an area that, last year, produced evidence of kitchen deposits from
medieval feasting on the site. So far we have uncovered a variety of walls,
waste deposits and what may be a brick drain but it is early days so we will
have to wait and see what is revealed as the excavations progress.
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The project involves a great many people in addition to those excavating.
QUEST (University of Reading) are carrying out specialist environmental and
other surveys while Archaeology South East (University of London) is providing
assistance with topographic surveying. Surrey Archaeological Society has
supplied a team to carry out the initial processing of the finds on site.
SCC Heritage Enterprises will carry out the detailed analysis of the finds
after the dig with the University of Nottingham providing specialist bone
identification. The Friends of Woking Palace are providing a whole range of
practical support to the dig – including providing regular tea and coffee,
which is much appreciated by those digging! The immediate neighbours are
again offering support and encouragement.
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