NHER 13067 (Monument record) - Possible site of medieval manor and undated cropmark enclosures and other features

1976. Cropmarks identified.
Cropmarks, apparently of old field system askew to present one and underlying hedge, also distinct rectangular sub-divided enclosure and ovoid enclosure. [1] states that the ovoid enclosure is the site of a manor marked on an early 18th century map. Visible on (S1).

It was subsequently confirmed that a field book of Ringstead (probably 1690, not 1724 as per [1]) marks this field as "site of Bardolph's Manor".
See notes in file for NHER 59937.
E. Rose (NAU), 16 January 1978. Amended 3 February 1989.

1981, 1985 and 1986. Systematic fieldwalking.
Fieldwalking along the eastern edge of the field and several of the areas in which cropmark features had been identified. This work recovered a significant quantity of Roman pottery pottery as well as a number of Roman tiles and bricks. Other finds recovered included Mesolithic and undatable worked flints; undatable late prehistoric and Iron Age pottery, millstone grit querns, undatable iron slag and ?Middle Saxon, Late Saxon and medieval pottery. See NHER 59937 for further details.
E. Rose (NAU) 24 October 1986. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 December 2013.

April 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of field systems, rectilinear enclosures, linear features and trackways/roads/droveways are visible across the modern field. They can be seen on NLA aerial photographs from 1976 (S1). This field is located to the northwest of Ringstead and is centred on NGR TF7040 4080. As well as crossing this field the cropmarks extend into the field to the northwest. The southwestern most point of the overall complex is located at approximately NGR TF7034 4064; the northwestern most point at TF7019 4095; the southeastern most point at TF7051 4072, and the northeastern most point at TF7053 4096. The dates and origins of these features are uncertain.

The northeastern point (TF7053 4096) coincides with the end of a trackway that is part of a 'T' shaped complex/junction of double ditched linears/roads, this is the east end of the top section. The corresponding point to the west is located at TF7040 4091 and the bottom of the stem of the 'T' is located to the south at TF7047 4087. Other linear features can be seen adjoining/abutting the 'stem' at right angles, roughly parallel to the top trackway.

The most intensive/concentrated area within the overall cropmark complex is located/centred on TF7046 4073. This appears to consist of a two celled enclosure of around 52 x 25/30m with a north to south trackway along its eastern end and a series of other interconnected linear features. Cropmarks of a curvilinear/oval enclosure can also be determined (at around NGR TF7034 4068). The NHER record refers to an oval moated manorial site. It is difficult to determine what is meant by this. The oval enclosure looks more like an enclosure than a moat, but this cannot be ruled out.

Only a part of the visible cropmarks have been covered above, further trackways and other linear features can be seen within the overall site. Not all of the cropmarks are on the same alignment and would therefore suggest origins at different times.
H. Clare (NMP) 8 April 2002.