Lomer Pond, Preshaw Estate, Exton, Hampshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief

Vegetation filled the area of the medieval pond. A mini-excavator with a toothless ditching bucket was used by the groundworks contractors to remove the vegetation and silt down to the level of the original medieval clay lining. An archaeologist monitored the works throughout. Lomer pond is a surviving historic feature within the wider Scheduled Monument of Lomer Deserted Medieval Village. Scheduled Monument Consent was granted to restore Lomer pond to its original depth and remove damaging vegetation, thereby enhancing its ecological and historical/cultural value. The archaeological watching brief was carried out as a condition of the Scheduled Monument Consent. Lomer pond was previously de-silted using a mechanical excavator in the 1980s under the ownership of the current landowner's father. The watching brief monitored the de-silting works carried out from 25th to 27th September 2023, which successfully reinstated its original depth without unintentional sub-surface excavation. The current desilting exercise uncovered its original medieval clay lining with a layer of flints embedded in it particularly along its southern sloping "beach". Shotgun cartridges from the 1980s were observed in the overlying silt layer.