NHER 22594 (Monument record) - West Lynn medieval saltern complex

24 April 1986.
Group of saltern mounds ?, with medieval pot scatters.
See full list of contexts in file.
NCM.
R.J. Silvester (NAU), 16 May 1986.

For full details of wares, flint types, etc., see Fenland Folders.

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
This site is largely comprised of saltern mounds, situated around a meandering channel on the west bank of the River Great Ouse (S1). There are a minimum of twenty-one separate mounds visible, ranging in plan from irregular to sub-rounded and in diameter from 12m to 82m. Some of the mounds have straight sides or more regular shapes (e.g. TF 6104 2083) which might suggest that they have been truncated or later utilised as quarries. There is a length of bank running in a north-east to south-west direction through the saltern mounds within the northern part of the site, which may also utilise saltern mounds as part of a flood or sea defence. Within the south-western part of the site there is an irregular shaped island or parcel of land, bounded by a meandering channel, which is probably a former saltmarsh channel, which has undergone some form of modification or canalisation. There are a series of linear banks around the north and western sides of the channel, presumably designed to act as a form of flood defence, and the island itself is divided by a north-west to south-east aligned ditch. The southern strip of the island appears to be covered by a large saltern mound (S2), which in turn has a system of ridge and furrow style earthworks upon it (S3). The western end of this mound (TF 6095 2057) appears to have been truncated and levelled to create a sub-rectangular platform (S3), which may have once supported a building and corresponds with a scatter of metal working debris and medieval pottery.
There is a circular ring ditch (S3) within the centre of the island (TF 6099 2060), with a diameter of 10m, which is likely to be the remains of a stack stand, and may be Post-medieval in date. Within the northern are of the island is an elongated saltern mound which appears to have been truncated and levelled at the eastern end to form a platform bounded by a narrow bank to its eastern side. There appears to be the remains of a rectangular structure, with a minimum north to south length of 8m, and a width of 8m, which probably represents the remains of a building. The structure possibly as a relatively small annexe at its southern end.

The saltern mounds are likely to have been formed during the Later Saxon or medieval periods, and may represent a relatively long period of production on this site. They are concentrated around the meandering channel, which may have provided a source of running water for the sand washing, but may also have provided a navigable watercourse that could have acted as draw dock or landing point for small boats. The platforms and structures may themselves be the sites of saltcotes, associated with the salt production, but may also represent later occupation, suggested by the presence of the ridge and furrow style earthworks (which are more akin to lazybeds) and the circular stack base.
M. Brennand (NMP), 10 October 2002.

NMP plot extends site from original Fenland Fieldwalking site.
M. Horlock (NLA), 8 July 2003.

April/May 2005. Casual finds.
Late Saxon and medieval sherds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 11 June 2005.

29 September 2012. Evaluation.
Excavation of an evaluation trench to the north of Harvey House recorded no archaeological finds or features.
No traces of activity associated with the medieval salterns was observed.
See NHER 58266 for further information.
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 November 2012.