Prehistoric items found on site planned for 160 homes

Excavation works were carried out at West End Lane, in Henfield, as part of an approved application for a 160 home development.

SWAT Archaeology undertook the work on behalf of the developer Barratt Homes.

SWAT declined to comment. However, in a document seen by the County Times, but not verified, SWAT said it had worked on 67 trenches in the area. Of this 48 contained no archeological features while 19 contained ditches, gullies, postholes and pits containing 15 flint lithics and pottery.

Barratt Homes said five shards of pottery dating from the mid 13th to 18th century were also discovered.

“The findings are not reported to be unusual for a site excavation of this nature and as anticipated did confirm that the site had been used for agriculture since the pre-historic period,” a spokesman for the developer added.

Horsham District Council said two excavations took place after the first showed presence of prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval remains.

A spokesman for HDC said: “These works identified further medieval and post-medieval remains typical of agriculture in the weald, but no further prehistoric remains were identified, apart from some flints present in the topsoil.

“In summary, the archaeological features for at the West End Lane site in Henfield included: ditches, gullies, postholes and pits with pottery sherds and flint fragments identified as probably of the Mesolithic, Early Neolithic or Bronze Age date.”

The items have now been handed to Horsham Museum and work is set to begin on the site.

A HDC spokesman added: “The results of the archaeological excavations confirmed that remains were present but on the basis of evidence gathered, they are considered only to be of low significance.

“In the light of the information already gathered and the low significance of the remains present, no further excavation works are recommended.”

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