NHER 19694 (Monument record) - Possible medieval saltern mound

18 November 1983. Fenland fieldwalking.
Very small part may have been removed when electricity substation was built. Clearly related to sea defences, some sort of mole standing off NHER 19693 as is also found at West Walton. Under rapeseed and no chance to measure or fieldwalk. Note also massive reorganisation of field dykes in this area, but approximately 90m east to west x 100m north to south x 5 feet (1.5m) high. WPP 18 (S1).
For full details of wares, flint types etc see Fenland Folders (S2).
R. Silvester 18 November 1983.

1985.
This is more probably a saltern.
R. Silvester (NAU).

September 2006. Geophysical Survey.
Magetometry survey undertaken prior to proposed expansion of electricity substation.
Three areas to the north-east of this site were examined, with ditch and pit-type features identified that were probably part of a larger saltworking area.
See report (S3) and NHERs 53705-53707 for further details.
S. Howard (NLA), 4 December 2009.

March and April 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site at Rose Hall Farm.
Although the area examined coincided with a substantial portion of this possible saltern mound no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains was identified. The only responses of note were linear anomalies that correspond with former field boundaries depicted on 19th-century maps.
See report (S4) and NHER 65586 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 June 2023.

July 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site at Rose Hall Farm.
Two of the excavated trenches coincided with this possible saltern mound. A test pit excavated within one of these trenches demonstrated that the mound consisted of a pale, yellowish grey sand that was at least 0.9m thick. No debris from salt production was encountered and no finds were recovered. It was overlain by a greyish brown clayey silt deposits that also partially sealed another possible saltern to the south (NHER 19693).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 May 2024.