NHER 4090 (Monument record) - Earthworks of a medieval moat, ridge and furrow, field boundaries and enclosures, probably associated with a former medieval manor site

Moated site south of Beeston church, under pasture.

June 1976.
Two post medieval base sherds, one sherd of decorated Grimston jug, another of undecorated same.
A. Rogerson (NLA), June 1976.

Rectangular moat with arm projecting south from east side.
E. Rose (NAU).

March 1987.
Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photography undated photographs show moat as waterfilled except for the projecting south arm.
The 1977 NAU aerial photographs show moat dry but retaining same shape, with bushes along arms; west arm however becoming eroded by cattle.
The north arm is the boundary of the churchyard. A ziz-zag drainage ditch to the west runs to a pond. When seen from top of church spire, moat dry and now very shallow, bushes removed, but some ponds within and also outside line of east arm. Drainage ditch to west now partly infilled.
E. Rose (NAU), 31 March 1987.

The moat measures overall about 78m east to west by 42m north to south, the arms averaging 12m wide by 1.5m deep.
An original entrance crosses the southwest angle and a possible causeway crosses the centre of the south arm.
Ordnance Survey records.
R. J. Rickett (NAU), 25 July 1990.

July 1994. Earthwork Survey.
Survey at 1:1000, extending the earthwork site to cover the whole field.
Found west of moat at TF 8934 1524:
1 Iron Age pottery sherd (gritted).
Found in south-west corner of site at TF 8925 1510:
1 Roman pottery sherd (probably Roman greyware).
2 medieval pottery sherds (probably medieval greyware).
Pottery identified by D. Gurney (NLA).
See notes (S1) and plan (S2). This survey is noted in (S3).
B. Cushion (NLA), July 1994.

Moat wet in some areas.
H. Paterson (NLA), 27 February 1998.

October 2005.
Moated site under pasture - sheep grazing the site.
Part of an English 14th century medieval floor tile found in moat close to southeast corner of churchyard.
Identification by L. Talbot (NAU).
(S4).
D. Robertson, 26 October 2005.

May-June 2008. Metal-detecting.
1 Iron Age pottery sherd.
1 medieval horse harness pendant and suspension mount (gilt), 1 large lead weight, 2 three-part strap-ends and 3 lead pot mends.
4 medieval/post-medieval vessal fragments (inc leg and rim fragments).
1 post-medieval coin, 1 pottery sherd, 2 double loop sword belt hangers, 1 button and 1 ?spoon handle fragment.
Pottery identified by A. Rogerson (NLA), coins by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 18 July 2008
Updated by J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

March 2024. Wendling Beck and Fransham Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
The earthworks of a medieval moat with associated field boundaries, possible enclosures, boundary banks, boundary ditches, ridge and furrow, a pond, and possible drainage ditches are visible on aerial photographs and recent (2017) visualised lidar data (S5-S22). As the lidar survey was flown relatively recently it is likely that the earthworks still survive. It is possible that the features may relate to the site of a former medieval manor. The earthworks of a mound (centred at TF 8938 1518) and a hollow (centred at TF 8940 1520) are also visible on S21. The function of the features is uncertain. However, the features most likely relate to the moated site. Although the majority of the features are most likely medieval in date, a post medieval date for some of the features cannot be ruled out. The monument polygon has been slightly amended to the location of the features as visible on S21.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 26 March 2024