NHER 13068 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Substantial medieval earthworks relating to a series of enclosures, trackways and boundaries

Cropmark of small square enclosure (moat - D. Edwards (NAU)) with track leading away to northeast, also linear features.
E. Rose (NAU).

In fields to the north of above there are further linear cropmarks.
Some of these are parallel.
J. Bown (NAU) 27 October 1980.

17 January 1978. Site located by E. Rose (NAU).
Area extended to include above, which is also area marked as '?old lake' on NCM map by R. R. Clarke (NCM) 'from aerial photographs' (1946 RAF?). Presumably he meant the large dark underlying patch, which is a possibility, or it could be geological. There are also two small circular features but these are considered to be natural by J. Bown (NAU)
Located E. Rose (NAU) 17 January 1978.

1980s.
Informant stated in 1987 that 'there was a broad pasture behind (Wayland) farmhouse and beyond that a meadow known as Hall Pasture. There was a dip in the ground said to be the remains of the Hall'. This was visible from the attics of the house and there were deep fox earths there. This sounds as if it comes within this site, but not the possible moat noted at southwest corner as that is too far away; but might possibly refer to NHER 8817.
E. Rose (NAU) 4 September 1987.

December 1989.
Area of moat ploughed and under stubble. Area of remaining marks and 'old lake' (now a marsh) proposed for tree planting.
Faint possible hollow way and marks of quarrying - see report in file.
Site mentioned by informant must be within this area owing to lie of land, but no trace of anything resembling site of hall.
Information from D. Edwards (NAU).
E. Rose (NAU) 11 December 1989.

1997.
Site extended to south to take in area of rough grassland which has a continuation of the causeway to north and other ditches, which may well be common edge ditches - the causeway being the common.
The possible moat fragment is not very convincing, given its relationship to the east-to-west causeway.
The central area - surrounded by a ditch and assumed to have been a lake is a possible decoy, but no convincing shaped arms are seen.
Sketch plot in file.
B. Cushion (NLA) August 1997.

The earthworks at the south end mentioned above are still present in January 2001.
E. Rose (NLA) January 2001.

February 2011. Oblique Aerial Photograph.
Medieval Earthworks can be seen in waterlogged conditions.
Photos taken by Steve Wilson.
See (S1) for further details.
D. Lefeuvre (HES), 14 March 2011.

December 2006.
Earthworks can be seen on Google Earth imagery.
See (S2) for further details.
D. Lefeuvre (HES), 14 March 2011.

For details of two ring ditches previously recorded under this number, see NHER 55708.
A. Cattermole (HES), 15 June 2011.

February 2026. HER Enhancement: Forestry Commission Project K.
Substantial medieval earthworks relating to a series of enclosures, trackways and boundaries are visible on visualised lidar data from a survey flown in 2022 (S3) and on aerial photographs (S4-S5). The main element of the site is a large sub-circular or D-shaped enclosure (centred at approximately TF 9768 0169). An entrance way is visible on the features northeastern side (centred at approximately TF 9775 0180) which is connected by a short trackway to a second, longer northwest to southeast aligned trackway (centred at approximately TF 9780 0187). A further trackway can be seen extending southeast from the large enclosures southern side (centred at approximately TF 9758 0157), to an area of earthwork probable medieval settlement features and former field boundaries in the south of the record (centred at approximately TF 9746 0130). Within the large enclosure, a second, smaller sub-circular or D-shaped enclosure (centred at approximately TF 9768 0174) with a probable entrance on the features northeastern side, is also visible. The entrance of the smaller interior enclosure aligns with the northeastern entrance of the main larger enclosure. Also, within the larger enclosure a series of linear features which may relate to internal boundaries and a possible small rectilinear enclosure (centred at approximately TF 9767 0167) are also visible on S3. Across the wider area covered by this record, earthworks which likely relate to medieval field boundaries, medieval settlement features, medieval to post medieval ponds and post medieval to modern drainage features are also visible on the visualised lidar data. The large enclosure and its internal features likely relate to a high-status medieval settlement site. It has been previously suggested (see NHER 8808 and 8809) that a medieval castle was present in this area. It is possible that this site could relate to the suggested former castle site given the form and size of the earthworks. This site would also be a more likely candidate compared to the previously suggested sites (NHER 8808 and 8809). However, further documentary research, analysis of aerial sources and field visits would be required to confirm this interpretation.
J. Powell (Norfolk County Council Environment Service), 17 February