NHER 2211 (Monument record) - Possible late medieval water pipe

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Summary

Around 1725, twenty-six earthenware drain pipes and alleged Roman bricks were found near a medieval seabank in a garden in one of the Walpole parishes. It is thought that the drain pipes and tiles are likely to be late medieval in date.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet Not recorded
Civil Parish WALPOLE HIGHWAY, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK
Civil Parish WALPOLE, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK
Civil Parish WALPOLE CROSS KEYS, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

No mapped location recorded.

Around 1725 twenty-six earthenware drain pipes and alleged Roman bricks, found near medieval seabank in a garden (S1).
Interpreted as an aqueduct. Almost certainly not Roman (late 15th century (S2) calls Walpole St. Peter) Haverfield says 'needs confirmation very much'.

For reference Parish registers; (S3), (S4), (S5), (S6), (S7), (checked) (S9).
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

The 'Excursions' states that Sir A. Fountain called them Roman, and that Mr Cory (sic; not Coney as R. R. Clarke NCM suggested) sent them to Lord Coleraine and Dr Stukeley.
They were found at 3ft (0.9m) deep; pipes 20 inches (50cm) long, three and three quarter inch (9.5cm) bore, half and inch (1.75cm) thick, tapering into each other - 26 found whole. (S9) however does have 'found on land of Mr Edwin Coney' not Cory as in Excursions. Which is correct?

Ordnance Survey card has transcript of letter in Stukeley; 'I have a tenant who lives under the Bank and upon digging in his garden about 3ft (0.9m) under ground found many Roman bricks and an aqueduct (sic) made with earthenware pipes, we took up about twenty-six, most whole, though not without difficulty, they being almost (sic) as tender as the earth itself. These pipes were made of palish red earth, which grew hard again upon being exposed to the air.
The length of them was twenty inches, the bore three and three quarter inches, the thicknesses of their sides half an inch. One of the ends much smaller than the other so as to be inserted into the wider end of the pipe it followed'. Another reference is also given, (S10).
E. Rose (NAU), 17 January 1985.

  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Walpole.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 41 NE 2.
  • <S1> Article in Serial: Beloe, E. M. 1895. Freebridge Lynn Hundred and the Making of Lynn. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XII pp 311-334. p 311.
  • <S2> Article in Serial: 1950. Proceedings of Cambridge Antiquarian Society. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. Vol XLIII, p 19. p 19.
  • <S3> Serial: Stukeley. Diaries. Vol 3, p 27; Vol 2, p 23. pp 23, 27.
  • <S4> Publication: Gough. 1722. Britannia by Camden.
  • <S5> Monograph: Cromwell, T. and Cotman, J. S. 1818-1819. Excursions through Norfolk. Vol II p 95.
  • <S6> Monograph: 1901. The Victoria History of Norfolk. The Victoria History of the Counties of England. Vol 1.
  • <S7> Article in Serial: 1879. Proceedings of the Congress. Journal of the British Archaeological Association. First Series Vol XXXV pp 174-188. pp 177-178.
  • <S8> Newspaper Article: Ely and Wisbech Advertiser. 193. [unknown]. 16 March.
  • <S9> Serial: 1727. Spalding Gentlemen's Society Minutes. VolI. vol.I f.138. f 138.
  • BRICK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

May 23 2022 11:59AM

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