NHER 21554 (Monument record) - Choseley Farm

March 1985. Listed, Grade II.

July 1985. Field Observation.
House probably mid-late 16th century contains much reused limestone, possibly from leper hospital (NHER 1591).
Later alterations and wing of 1848.
Thetford type/Medieval wares from yard and gardens; human remains reported.
See further details in HER Notes (S1).
E. Rose (NLA), 19 July 1995.

October 1985-Autumn 1986. Casual Observation.
Between 1985 and 1986 several skeletons within what was clearly a burial ground were disturbed during groundworks at Choseley Farm. The first was found in late October 1985 and lay beneath a post-medieval wall. In the autumn of 1986 two further skeletons were discovered immediately to the east of the first. Trenching by workmen over the followings weeks disturbed a number of additional burials.
See reports (S2)-(S5) for detailed descriptions of the burials and the circumstances of their discovery.
See report (S6) for a summary of the remains found between 1985 and 1986 and a discussion of the history of the site and the parish as a whole.
It is noted in (S2) that "...other bones found in the vicinity some time ago were sent via a medical acquaintance of the landowners to Cambridge...". It is not clear whether these were ever located.
E. Rose (NLA), 31 July 1997. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 March 2015.

November 2002. Norfolk NMP.
The building is centred on TF 7531 4090 and appears as a ruined, single cell structure in 1946 (S7) with a length of 14m and a width of 5m. The second edition Ordnance Survey (revised 1902-7) depicts the building as a larger structure with a width of 10m (S8). This is a farm building, and is probably post medieval in date. The structure is surrounded by a rectangular embanked enclosure with a hedge on top. This is probably contemporary with the building.
M. Brennand (NMP), 14 November 2002.

May 2024. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed new garage to south-west of farmhouse.
The single trench excavated revealed a cobbled surface of probable post-medieval date. Finds associated with this surface included a heel iron of post-medieval or modern date and fragments of modern brick and window glass. No features were encountered beneath the cobbled surface. It should though be noted that its bedding deposit lay directly above natural geological deposits – suggesting this part of the site saw at least a degree of truncation before the cobbles were lain.
See report (S9) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 January 2025.

September and November 2024. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of a new detached garage block and an extension to existing forge building.
Both areas were stripped to the level of natural geological deposits with no archaeologically-significant remains exposed. In the area of the forge extension these natural deposits lay immediately beneath a relatively thin topsoil layer, suggesting this area had also seen at least a degree of recent truncation. A bank at the south-west edge of the extension footprint was shown to be formed of layers of made ground that were primarily composed of natural deposits mixed with brick rubble. This material overlay a relict topsoil.
Two underpinning pits were also excavated adjacent to the forge building, one of which fell entirely within a large of pit of late post-medieval date. The second revealed two possible post-holes.
Work at the site of the new garage exposed a further portion of the cobbled surface encountered during the preceding trial trenching.
No finds were recovered.
See report (S10) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 January 2025.