NHER 33706 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks of unknown date

1946.
(S1) shows series of irregular pond-like depressions for about 300m immediately north of sea bank on salt marsh.

1998.
Visit confirmed the existence of part-banked pits, some near rectangular and linked to others, with others more irregular. Several directly linked by often broad leats/gaps into salt marsh creeks. Many very degraded.
Possible shell fish ponds. Probably too varied for salt pans, but there is a sandy mound to east, no obvious evidence for saltern debris on surface.
Sketch plotted from (S2) at 1:2500 in file.
B. Cushion (NLA), 18 June 1998.

September 2002. Norfolk NMP.
A series of irregular pond-like depressions are visible for c.300m immediately north of sea bank (NHER 26901) on the edge of the salt marsh. They run from NGR TF7338 4403 to TF7369 4403. A short way from the eastern end a bank/mound is located, at ca. NGR TF7377 4403 (centre). These features were mapped by Abby Hunt for Suffolk CC, and the aerial photographs used are unknown. However, they are visible on OS 1972 (S2) and RAF 1946 (S1) aerial photographs. It is quite likely that it was the OS aerial photographs that were used in mapping.
The date and function of these features are uncertain, though, as previously suggested, it is possible that the ditched features were once shell fish ponds (?)
H. Clare (NMP), 16 September 2002.

May-November 2004. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey.
Inter-tidal survey (Environmental Zone 7), Context 1031:
Located on the southern edge of Thornham saltmarsh.
A group of mounds, hollows, pits and disturbed areas were recorded.
They may have been associated with saltworking, although it has been previously suggested they were associated with the shell-fishing industry .
See assessment report (S3) for further details.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.421).
J. Allen (NLA), 14 April 2005. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2019.