Pitt Rivers lived in Guildford, Surrey from 1873, when he took command of the West Surrey Brigade Depot there. [Thompson, 1977: 37] He seems to have been very active, archaeologically, at this time. The move also precipitated an important change, which ultimately led to the formation of the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford. When he moved to Guildford in 1873 he decided that his collection should be publicly exhibited and arranged with the South Kensington Museum to display around 10,000 objects at the Bethnal Green branch of that museum. [Chapman, 1991:153, 156]
[Pitt Rivers] made his final arrangements with the South Kensington authorities during the winter of 1873. The collection was finally set up during the late spring of the following year. Most of the work was apparently carried out by the curator at Bethnal Green, G.F. Duncombe, a figure with whom [he] exchanged occasional correspondence. In its final arrangement, the collection exemplified many of the newest ideas in display and organization. New display cabinets were employed, both standing cabinets and desk cabinets, and modern descriptive labels were included for each display. [Chapman, 1981: 373]
By 1874 he had commenced excavations locally at a site he called Postford Farm. The next year he worked at Cissbury but the following year (1876) he returned to work in Surrey on three barrows, work he carried on with in 1877. In the same year (1877) he resigned his post in Guildford and returned to live in London.
In Surrey he lived at Uplands House, Merrow, to the east of Guildford. The house probably still exists (see http://merrowresidents.org.uk/planning.htm for a planning application amongst other things to turn the Victorian house into flats). According to Bowden he bought this house in 1873. [1991: 83] As Bowden tells it:
At some time during the first three years of his residence there he noticed six small barrows near a neighbouring house on Merrow Down and in October 1876 he excavated them, though 'in doubt when he commenced whether they would turn out to be graves'. This excavation was reported but never fully described by [Pitt Rivers] and it was not until his original notes and drawings (Pitt Rivers papers, P40 and R7) came to light that a full account was published (Saunders 1980). The first three barrows contained cremations, the third accompanied by a knife which, [Pitt Rivers] claimed, 'determines the whole cluster to be of the pagan Saxon period', dating which has now been confirmed by modern scholarship ... The remaining barrows yielded nothing and [Pitt Rivers'] record of them is scanty. [1991: 83]
In May 1877, according to Bowden, Pitt Rivers opened a further two barrows on Whitmore [sic, actually Whitmoor] Common, again he did not properly record them. Bowden suggests though that this time he did mean to publish more details as printer's proofs of the excavation plans and sections exist and were published in 1924:
Both barrows contained Earlier Bronze Age urns containing cremated bone. The published plans show small trenches, in the case of Barrow 1 apparently circular, in the centre of the mounds. Barrow 2 had a ditch visible on the surface but no attempt was made to examine this or to look for a similar feature in the case of Barrow 1. [Bowden, 1991: 83]
It is clear from the documentation that survives with the artefacts in the Pitt Rivers Museum (see below) that Bowden underestimates the time that Pitt Rivers spent field-walking this area and collecting stone tools. By far the most artefacts come from the site Pitt Rivers (or Lane Fox as he was still titled then) knew as Postford Farm though the items Bowden reports on above can be clearly identified also.
Artefacts from Surrey in the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum
Note that the figures in round brackets are measurements. Most of the entries are illustrated with drawings.
Chinthurst Hill
The Hill now has a folly on its summit, built in the 1930s, and it has fine views over Guildford.
1. 1884.123.63 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - 1884.123.54-67 14 ?unworked (except 1884.123.60 and 62) flakes (in a square small wooden tray) from surface in the neighbourhood of Guildford viz:- Small narrow mouse-grey thin flake (3 1/2)
2. 1884.123.450 Truncated oval pebble flake scraper, part of cortex removed in working the edge (3 1/4) Chinthurst Hill [Drawing]
Guildford unprovenanced
1. 1884.123.471 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - Roughly pear-shaped large pebble (?fossil sponge) of flint, cortex-covered, the end flaked to a rough edge (13) Guildford
Guildford Railway Station
The station was first opened in 1845 and rebuilt in 1880 (it was rebuilt again in the 1980s). The line is (and was) connected to Waterloo in London.
1. 1884.123.459 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - Small grey plano-convex rounded scraper, patches of white on upper side worked all round (4) nr Guildford statn [Station] ALF
St Martha's Hill
The hill is between Guildford and Chilworth. It has several prehistoric sites.
1. 1884.35.60 Accession Book IV entry - 1884.35.1-121 - Pottery Primitive and Ancient Hand-moulded Fragments of British urns (gritty ware) from 2 ft down [unknown number]
2-3. 1884.123.54-67 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - 1884.123.54-67 14 ?unworked (except 1884.123.60 and 62) flakes (in a square small wooden tray) from surface in the neighbourhood of Guildford
1884.123.54 - Subquadrangular narrow triangular-sectioned grey flake
1884.123.55 Subquadrangular flake with laterally curving cortex-covered point
4. 1884.123.472 Roughly globular grey flint hammerstone with patches of cortex, signs of use Dec 1873 Surface ALF Guildford [Drawing]
Merrow Down[s]
Close to the Guildford golf course.
1. 1884.121.11 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.121.1-28 Iron Implements Swords Knives Daggers - Small tanged triangular knife blade (c 14 1/2 cm). Found in barrow no 3 with burnt body 1877
2. 1884.125.118 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.125.1-415 Neolithic implements - Long narrow plano-convex flake end scraper? (11 3/4) Tumulus Merrow Down ALF 1876
3. 1884.125.119 Narrow pointed oval white patinated plano-convex flake, flammiform end (10 3/4) Meadow Down [sic] ALF 1876
New Barn Farm
It has not been possible to identify this farm, it might be the settlement marked Newbarn which is on a lane off Guildford Lane and Water Lane on Albury Downs.
1. 1884.123.61 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1 - 911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - 1884.123.54-67 14 ?unworked (except 1884.123.60 and 62) flakes (in a square small wooden tray) from surface in the neighbourhood of Guildford viz:- Small thin subcircular gable scarred flake
Peasmarsh or Peas Marsh
Peasmarsh is just to the south of Guildford, on the way to Godalming. It is not known why this object was not accessioned with the rest of the founding collection.
1. 1884.125.302 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.125.1-415 Neolithic implements 1884.125.206 and on Neolithic ground celts (except where stated) - End of a large parallel-sided orange patinated ?chert celt, subquadrangular, edge broken, fine work (13) Peas Marsh (= Peasemarsh Surrey) [Drawing]
2. 1884.140.925 PEASEMARSH Flaked implement of grey flint with concave retouched edge and point. Marked "PEAS MARSH. 5. A.L.F." Found unentered in the Upper Gallery 2007
Postford Farm
Postford Farm has been located as being at Grid reference 504434 146706 (map tile 34tq0446) by Caroline Butler, working on the Fell Fund funded project at the museum, 'Characterizing the World Archaeology Collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum: Defining research priorities (2010-20) in November 2009.
1. 1884.10.30-31 Accession Book IV entry - 1884.10.1-44 - Domestic Utensils etc for Food Preparation etc. Fragments of muller (one as marked)
2. 1884.123.256 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - Pyramidal conical core with cortex covering curved area, no signs of trimming or wear (c 4.9)
3. 1884.123.257 Curved pointed flake, point backed with cortex, bevelled and trimmed along the side of the flake angle (7)
4. 1884.123.258 Suboval side scraper with ?hollow scraper on the other side (6)
5. 1884.123.259 Flake with sharp straightish edge and curved back bevelled and worked as ?side scraper (5 1/4)
6. 1884.123.260 Pointed subpentangular flake with 3 bevels: ?hollow scraper by point (5)
7. 1884.123.261 Small brownish trimmed flake, ?broken, round-pointed triangular arrowhead (3 1/4)
8. 1884.123.279 Small tall flaked scraper resembling tarté type (scrap of brown cortex on top) (2 3/4) 1874
9. 1884.123.280 Somewhat similar [to 1884.123.279] large grey scraper (surface cracks all over) (4 1/2) 1874
10. 1884.123.281 ?Core used as scraper, parallel flaked, semi-oval in section with cone of percussion at X [place marked on drawing] (3 1/4) 1874
11. 1884.123.335 White flake point, rounded 'grip', worked along one edge (c 4)
12. 1884.123.340 Very small roughly semicircular plano-convex flake scraper (1 2/3) edge worked
13. 1884.123.347 Subconical flaked grey scraper resembling tarté form (3 2/3)
14-18. 1884.123.389 .1-5 Small wooden box containing 5 long flakes with long scars Postford nr Guildford 1874 - Long flakes with long scars Postford nr Guildford 1874
19. 1884.123.389 .6 Dark grey subconical ?core resembling tarté form, base roughly flaked possibly used as scraper (5)[Drawing]
20. 1884.123.390 Small grey ?core, the base a flaking face with bulb ?scraper
21. 1884.123.391 Roughly flaked 'nodule' of grey chert ?core (c 6 x 6 x 3 1/2)
22. 1884.123.421 Broad oval flake, mottled grey, small bulb one side (4.4)
23. 1884.123.455 Thick brown oval scraper of wedge flake, worked on broad margin as far as a patch of cortex (7 1/4)
24. 1884.123.456 Discoidal flake scrape [sic] with cortex covered margin worked at one end (c 5)
25. 1884.123.457 Roughly discoidal scraper made of a 'bulb' flake end, worked all round to butt on one margin on bulb side (c 4)
26. 1884.123.458 Truncated discoidal flake scraper, worked along one (the thick) margin on bulb side (c 4 1/2)
27. 1884.123.460 Grey brown discoidal flake scraper with straight butt worked all round (4)
28. 1884.123.461 Curved scraper made of a straight broken piece of cortex-covered flake (2 - 4 1/4)
29. 1884.123.462 Small thick sub-semi-circular scraper with rough piece of brown cortex on top (2 1/4) 1874 - 1877 [Drawing]
30. 1884.123.469 Small brown cardboard box of flakes 1874 - 1877 ALF [Drawing][unknown number]
31. 1884.131.22 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.131.1-60 Stone 'Implements' Cores - Small flint core with parallel flake scars (4 1/2)
32. 1884.131.23 Small flint core with parallel flake scars (4.6)
33. 1884.131.24 Small flint core (4 1/2)
34. 1884.131.25 Very small flint core (c 3)
35. 1884.132.63 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.132.1 - 405 Stone Implements Flakes - Thick brown grey marbled leaf-shaped narrow chert flake with ridge (c 7.6)
36. 1884.132.64 Flake of brownish to grey flint curved and narrow with cortex strip (7.3)
37. 1884.132.65 Flake of brownish to grey flint shallow with expanded rounded end (4.7)
38. 1884.132.66 Flake of brownish to grey flint, thick narrow small triangular in section (c 4.4)
39. 1884.132.111 Elongated grey flake thin with rounded nozzle (6.5)
40. 1884.132.112 Elongated grey flake thin with thick terminal plate on back (6.4)
41. 1884.132.113 Elongated grey flake with prolongations at the end curving the upper part which is parallel flaked (8 1/2)
42. 1884.132.114 Greyish-brown narrow blade of flint with bevelled edges, one straight (5)
43. 1884.133.29 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.133.1 - 235 Stone Implements Worked Flakes Scrapers W Gallery Case 13 - Suboval creamy grey bevel-ended scraper (5.8)
44. 1884.133.30 Subcircular truncated end scraper of grey flint, thick (4.5)
45. 1884.133.31 Subcircular truncated end scraper of grey brown flint, thin (alveolar both faces) with projections on one side (4.4)
46. 1884.133.32 Greyish white round bevel-ended scraper with gable ridge (5.1)
47. 1884.133.33 Suboval scraper, pale grey and dark grey bevel-ended scraper with patch of cortex (4.7)
48. 1884.133.34 Suboval scraper, pale grey and dark grey bevel-ended scraper with patch of cortex (4.2)
49. 1884.133.35 Suboval scraper, pale grey and dark grey bevel-ended scraper with patch of cortex (3.8)
50. 1884.133.36 Suboval thin-edged bevelled flake scraper, very pale grey and smoky brown (c 4)
51. 1884.133.37 Broad oval thin dark blue-grey flake scraper with bevelled end (4.4)
52. 1884.133.38 Oval scraper of a smoky brown wedge of flint, trimmed all round and steeply bevelled on thick part (5.8)
53. 1884.133.39 Small round bevelled dark brown thumb flint with reddish yellow cortex patch (c 3)
54. 1884.133.215 Thick subquadrangular plano-convex dark grey round and bevel-ended scraper, worked all round (5.7)
55. 1884.133.227 Small narrow expanding silver grey flint bevel-ended scraper, small patch of yellow cortex on end (c 4)
56. 1884.135.38 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.135.1-393 Stone Implements Arrow heads of flint etc - Small leaf-shaped arrowhead of pale brown flint, point broken
Uplands (i.e. his own home)
1. 1884.123.62 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - 1884.123.54-67 14 ?unworked (except 1884.123.60 and 62) flakes (in a square small wooden tray) from surface in the neighbourhood of Guildford viz:- White grey patinated flake of similar type [to 1884.123.61] with high back, steeply worked as a scraper at the thick end (3 1/2 x 4 1/2)
Wanborough Manor
Wanborough is west of Guildford on the northern slopes of the Hog's Back (a local hill). The manor was built in 1670, from 1880 it was lived in by Sir Algernon West, Principal Private Secretary to Gladstone, it is not known who lived there when Pitt Rivers collected this scraper.
1. 1884.123.412 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1 - 911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - Thick hollow curved dark grey plano-convex suboval small ?scraper (4 1/2) Wanborough Manor Guildford ALF
Warren Farm, St Katherine's Hill [sic - Actually St Catherine's Hill)
This farm is located just off Warren Road in Guildford
1. 1884.123.467 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - Grey cardboard box of rough implements St Katherines Hill Warren Farm Guildford ALF [unknown number]
2. 1884.123.478 Globular nodule of flaked dark flint, signs of much use, small pointed
3. 1884.123.479 Globular nodule of flaked dark flint, signs of much use, small
4. 1884.133.40 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.133.1-235 Stone Implements Worked Flakes Scrapers - Thick scraper flake of a bilobed 8-shaped pebble with brown cortex, one end bevelled (8.1)
5. 1884.133.150 Thick grey flint scraper, roughly semicircular, with concave cortexed top worked all round, partly crenellated (6 1/2)
6. 1884.133.151 Small thin discoidal white porcelain [sic] patinated scraper (4.1)
7. 1884.133.152 Subquadrangular endscraper with yellow brown cortex along one side (5.6)
White Lane Farm
This farm is, unsurprisingly, located in White Lane in Guildford, GU4, to the south of the town.
1-5. Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - 1884.123.54-67 14 ?unworked (except 1884.123.60 and 62) flakes (in a square small wooden tray) from surface in the neighbourhood of Guildford
1884.123.56 Pebble flake of fine creamy-grey opaque flint, suboval, struck from surface
1884.123.57 Suboval mottled grey black flake
1884.123.58 Narrow curved subrectangular flake with cortex ends
1884.123.59 Small suboval flake with an edging of cortex
1884.123.60 Small 'profile hat'-shaped flake with point and concavity worked (4)
6. 1884.123.401 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1 - 911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - Large subtriangular flake with base angles rounded (bulb before one of these) White Lane Farm
7. 1884.123.402 Small thick wedge-shaped flake of creamy ?chert with curved edge
8. 1884.123.451 Suboval grey flake end scraper with white patch of cortex (c 5 1/4)
Whitmore [actually Whitmoor] Common
Whitmoor Common is north of Guildford in Worplesdon. It is now a site os Special Scientific Interest. The pots from the tumuli are mentioned in 'A history of the county of Surrey' Victoria County History volume 3, 1911 pp. 390-5: 'There are also Bronze Age tumuli which have been opened, and pottery found there is now in the Pitt-Rivers [sic] collection, Oxford'.
1. 1884.35.62 Accession Book IV entry - 1884.35.1-121 - Pottery Primitive and Ancient Hand-moulded 1884.35.56-62 All in the hinged cases Fragments of British urns (gritty ware) from Whitmore Common Guildford
2-4. 1884.123.64 Accession Book VI entry - 1884.123.1-911 Neolithic and Mesolithic Madelainean etc - 1884.123.54-67 14 ?unworked (except 1884.123.60 and 62) flakes (in a square small wooden tray) from surface in the neighbourhood of Guildford
1884.123.65 Very small flake of translucent smoky grey flint Whitmore Tumulus
1884.123.66 Very small flake of translucent smoky grey flint Whitmore Tumulus
1884.123.67 Large broad skew oval flake with large bulb and broad edge of purple grey cortex (3 1/2 wide) Found close to the urn in Tumulus, Whitmore Common 14.11.77
Whitmore [actually Whitmoor] Common Tumulus 1
1. 1884.35.34 Accession Book IV entry - 1884.35.1-121 - Pottery Primitive and Ancient Hand-moulded Still larger burial pot of same type [as 1884.35.33] 1877 [1]
2. 1884.35.36 Similar burial pot [to 1884.35.35], square in long section, with a ring of knobs [3]
3. 1884.35.37 Similar burial pot [to 1884.35.35] but without knobs 1877 [4]
Whitmore [actually Whitmoor] Common Tumulus 2
1. 1884.35.33 Accession Book IV entry - 1884.35.1-121 - Pottery Primitive and Ancient Hand-moulded Large burial pot of coarse ware, expanding from the base to open mouth: surface convex with a large rope-like girdling ridge 1877 [5]
Additional Accession Book IV entry - J Ethn Soc [Journal of the Ethnological Society] [NS] III 310
2. 1884.35.35 Smaller burial pot of same type [as 1884.35.33] 1877 [2]
Further Reading
Gardner, E. 1924 'Bronze Age urns of Surrey' Surrey Archaeological Collections 35, pp. 1-29
[Pitt Rivers] Lane Fox, A. 1877 'On some Saxon and British Tumuli near Guildford' Report of the British Association pp. 116-7
Saunders, P.R. 1980 'Saxon barrows excavated by General Pitt Rivers on Merrow Down, Guildford' Surrey Archaeological Collections 72, pp. 69-75