NHER 21294 (Monument record) - Medieval moated site, medieval and post medieval features in Great Melton Park

The cropmarks and earthworks described below are now recorded as part of NHER 53665.

1985. In park (NHER 30505) of former hall (ruined; NHER 9277).
Complex of earthworks, some pre park and some contemporary with 18th century park. Includes hollow ways, one of road diverted in 1776, some older; fragments of possible triple moated site to east.
Also scatter of medieval sherds, brick and late medieval transistional sherd (context 14) at TG 1399 0614.
See detailed report by A. Gregory (NAU) and C. Barringer and plot in file (S1) (context 14 also on record map).
Finds held by NCM.
Finds identified by A. Gregory (NAU).
A. Gregory (NAU), 26 April 1985

May 1989. Fieldwalking. Northeast of greenhouse at TG 1348 0614.
Neolithic flint core.
Identified by J. J. Wymer (NAU).
W. Milligan (NCM), 6 June 1989.

Possible manorial site. See letter (S2) in file.
E. Rose (NAU), 26 November 1990.

4 April 1993. Fieldwalking finds.
Roman, medieval, post medieval sherds.
Flints.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 29 April 1993.

November 1999. Visit.
To east earthworks still visible in parkland grazed by cattle. To west construction of bowling green and cricket pitch have flattened any earthworks which may have been seen in this area previously.
H. Paterson (A&E), 20 April 2000.

February 2000. Earthwork Survey.
Survey at 1:1000.
Extensive earthworks in the park south of the remains of the early 17th Century Hall indicate a series of former roadways, two of them closed in the late 18th Century. A probable headland bank and at least two probable tofts were also noted. A substantial subdivided enclosure in woodland on the eastern extremity of the park, truncated by the road to the south, has produced medieval pottery and brick fragments indicating a significant property, possibly manorial.
See report (S3) for plan and further details. This site was included in (S7) and the results of the survey are also summarised in (S8).
B. Cushion (NLA), 29 February 2000. Amended by D. Holburn (HES), 14 November 2011 and P. Watkins (HES), 18 March 2015.

22 July 1993. NLA aerial photography (S4).
Letters assigned to features taken from report by B. Cushion (S3) in file.
Southwestern extend of hollow way (A) visible on photos, hollow way (B) is largely obscured.
The rectangular enclosure of the toft (D) shows, as does the cropmarks of this feature flattened by cricket pitch. The enclosure continues northwards and joins a linear boundary, running northwest to southeast, joining hollow way (B). Thus feature appears to be a continuation of earthwork (H), a bank and headland.
Slight banks can still be detected on the aerial photographs on the cricket pitch site, showing as faint parch marks in conjunction with ditches.
Note: not all features may relate to medieval landscape. Some maybe post medieval park elements or extensions of hall outbuildings etc.
Note: cropmarks apparent in centre of cricket pitch likely to have been obscured by sports activities etc.
See cropmark plan in file.
S. Massey (NLA), 31 January 2001.

27 July 1995. NLA aerial photography (S5).
Earthworks visible.
H. Clare (NLA), 19 April 2001.

2 July 1996. NLA aerial photography (S6).
The lines of hollow ways, ditches and enclosures can still be seen under the cricket pitch.
S. Massey (NLA), 23 July 2001.

June 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks and earthworks described above are now recorded as part of NHER 53665.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 14 June 2010.