Sussex House, High Street, Crawley, West Sussex - Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

There are 44 archaeological sites and findspots recorded within a 1km radius of the Site ranging in date from the Palaeolithic to the post-medieval period. The vast majority of these sites are medieval, mostly related to ironworking which forms an important part of the heritage of the Borough. There are several areas of known medieval activity close to or immediately adjoining the Site.

Cartographic evidence indicates that the present Site lies within an area of land used historically for agricultural purposes. Prior to the construction of the present standing buildings, the northern end of the Site held several small cottages.

The construction of the present buildings in the mid 20th Century, and the widening of the road (the present A2219) may have impacted significantly on the eastern side of the Site, but the western side of the Site, currently beneath a concrete cap appears to have remained largely undisturbed since the medieval period. This Assessment has established that there is, in general, a moderate potential for the presence of archaeological remains within the bounds of the Site, mostly likely of medieval origin.