NHER 17744 (Monument record) - Earthworks of a medieval wood boundary bank

Wood Boundary bank.
Section of original boundary of Great Wood, referred to in 16th century charters.
Massive triple bank and ditch.
Wood felled 1939 to 45 but line still marked by OS as boundary of rough pasture, at 1709 2915.
E. Rose (NAU) 17 November 1981.

Further traced by P. Wade-Martins (NAU) from 1658 2921 to 1663 3001 around present Great Wood, and small isolated section at 1683 2952.
The reference to the wood is in fact 1616 and the felling was 1934 to 5.
But bank is probably medieval and may mark boundary of Bishops Manor centred on NHER 6714 before mid 16th century union of manors.
Northern section continues eastward as faint bank to 1738 2978, being the early 17th century boundary of Great Wood and park after manor amalgamation.
Interesting that this section was not embanked in 18th century as in remainder of park.
P. Wade-Martins (NAU) and E. Rose (NAU) 26 June 1985.

An alternative course to the southernmost destroyed section (17744 context 1) is suggested by the Head Forester on the basis of the occurence of small leaved limes and blue bells.
This goes south of the present trackway and cuts the so called deer pits which are 19th century features on the site of an 18th century farm.
E. Rose, (NLA) 25 January 1999.

September 2008
Several pits identified, three in the north -east of the wood are long, shallow and able to be entered by cart. A deep pit in the north of the wood is likely to have been a quarry. Contains much dogs mercury, bluebells and an ancient tree, possibly a survivor from an earlier wood.
See (S1) for further information
H. White (NLA), 3 February 2009

December 2022. Aylsham and Brampton Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
Sections of bank and ditch, which may relate to a previously recorded (see above) medieval wood bank or a post medeival boundary, are visible as earthworks on recent (2017) visualised lidar data (S2). It is possible that the features relate to a wood bank associated with the Great Wood in Blickling Park (NHER 30433). Although the features may date to the medieval period, a later post medieval date, for some of the features cannot be ruled out. As the lidar survey was flown relatively recently (2017) it is likely that the features still survive as earthworks. The features are not visible on the readily accessible historic maps such as S3-S5.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 16 December 2022.