NHER 4192 (Monument record) - Late Neolithic and Bronze Age site, medieval settlement and multi-period finds

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Summary

Various cropmarks are visible on aerial photographs of this site, including a large ring ditch of possible Early Bronze Age date and undated enclosures and ditches. Fieldwalking between 1969 and 1991 recovered significant concentrations of medieval pottery indicative of settlement at this location. Other finds included Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (Beaker), Roman and post-medieval pottery sherds; lava quern fragments; slag and a concentration of burnt flint 'pot boilers'. Subsequent metal-detecting between 2005 and 2025 recovered Late Prehistoric flint flakes; an Early Bronze Age flint dagger; an undatable burnt flint 'pot boiler'; Roman, Late Saxon, medieval, medieval/post-medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds; a post-medieval roof tile; Roman to medieval lava quern fragments; an undatable piece of iron slag; Roman, medieval and post-medieval coins; a possible Roman coin blank; medieval and medieval/post-medieval jettons; a post-medieval token and a range of other, Bronze Age to post-medieval metal objects. These metal finds include the blade from a Bronze Age axehead; a Middle Bronze Age/Late Bronze knife or rapier fragment; a Late Iron Age strap union; Roman brooches; an Early Saxon brooch fragment; a Late Saxon buckle; medieval to post-medieval dress accessories; a medieval horse-harness fitting, harness mount, probable harness mount, key fragment, probable leash swivel, suspension unit or holder from lamp/censer, gilt furniture stud, copper alloy rivet, copper alloy and lead seal matrices, lead weights, lead pot mends, lead spindle whorls, lead ampullas and lead window came; a medieval/post-medieval should bolster from whittle-tang knife, copper alloy rings, copper alloy vessel fragments and lead weights; post-medieval coin weights, purse fragments, crotal bells, a belt or harness mount, rowel spur, spur attachment, book clasp, furniture stud or tack, probable keyhole cover from casket or box, pair of dividers, medallion of Frederick the Great of Prussia, lead weights, lead cloth seals and lead powder charge cap or measure and a potentially post-medieval unidentified copper alloy object.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF81SE
Civil Parish FRANSHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

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30 March 1946.
Enclosures and linear ditches shown as earthworks on (S1).
Information from A. Rogerson (NAU).
D. Edwards (NAU).

Also a large ring ditch at [1].
D. A. Edwards (NAU), 29 January 1985.

1969. Fieldwalking.
Medieval sherds found along the north half of Field 73 and northwest quadrant of Field 75 by P. Wade-Martins (NAU). Now context 4.

1979. Detailed field walking.
Contexts 1 to 3 in Field 73.
Medieval sherds and slag.
Contexts 5 to 9 in Field 75.
Medieval and post-medieval sherds including Grimston, Roman base sherd greyware; sherd in Thetford form but medieval fabric; lava fragments.
See full details see (S2).
E. Rose (NAU), 9 July 1984.

February-March 1991. Fieldwalking finds. Contexts 10 to 73. Whole field rewalked.
Medieval concentration context 74, pot boiler concentration at [2].
See (S2).
A. Rogerson (NLA), March 1992.

This site is recorded as Med 24, Med 25, Med 26 and Med 27 in (S3). The tenurial history of the settlement can be traced back to the 15th century.
See (S3) for more details.
S. Spooner (NLA), 15 December 2005.

August-September 2005. Metal-detecting. In area of Med 27.
4 medieval pottery sherds (1 unglazed, 3 glazed Grimston).
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd (LMT).
Identified by A. Rogerson (NLA). See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 October 2005.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 6 March 2014.

October-November 2005. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval coin and 1 buckle plate.
1 post-medieval coin weight and 1 lead trade weight (4oz).
Objects Identified by S. Ashley (NLA), coins by A. Marsden (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 December 2005.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 6 March 2014.

November-December 2005. Metal-detecting.
2 medieval coins and 1 swivel from ?leash.
3 post-medieval coins, 1 ?finger ring/ferrule, 1 lead unidentified object and 1 lead weight (2oz).
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 16 January 2005.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 13 February 2014.

December 2005-January 2006. Metal-detecting.
4 Roman pottery sherds (3 greyware, 1 amphora) and 2 brooches (Colchester and Langton down types).
1 Late Saxon pottery sherd (Thetford).
2 medieval coins, 15 pottery sherds (inc 6 Grimston) and 1 lead pot mend.
1 ?medieval fragment of lava quern and 1 lead weight.
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd.
2 post-medieval coins, 1 lead powder charge cap/measure, 1 buckle frame, 4 lead weights and 1 fragment of a tin alloy button.
Pottery identified by A. Rogerson (NLA), coins identified by J. Davies (NCM) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 19 February 2006.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 19 February 2014.

February-March 2006. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval lead pot mend and 1 strap end.
Identified by S. Ashley (NLA). See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 April 2006.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

March-April 2006. Metal-detecting.
1 Late Saxon buckle (S4).
3 medieval coins (1 venetian), 8 pottery sherds (inc 4 Grimston) and 1 strap-end.
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd.
1 post-medieval ceramic peg tile fragment and 1 buckle.
Ceramic finds identified by A. Rogerson (NLA), coins by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists and (S4) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 16 May 2006.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 6 February 2014.

November-December 2006. Metal-detecting.
1 Roman ?coin blank.
3 medieval coins and 2 buckles.
Numismatic items identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 January 2006.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 13 February 2014.

March-April 2008. Metal-detecting.
2 Roman coins, 1 pottery sherd (greyware) and 1 brooch (Colchester type).
1 Early Saxon brooch (damaged, either cruciform or short-long).
2 Late Saxon pottery sherds (Thetford type jar rims).
4 medieval coins, 2 jettons, 89 pottery sherds (31 Grimston), 1 Globular headed rivet, 1 buckle frame, 1 button, 1 strap end, 2 fragments of ?strap end, 2 strap fittings, 1 harness mount, 1 lead seal matrix and 4 lead pot mends.
2 ?medieval lead spindle whorls.
1 medieval/post-medieval jetton, 6 pottery sherds, 1 buckle frame, 3 fragments of cast cooking vessels, 1 Rim sherd of a lathe-turned vessel, 1 ?vessel repair patch, 1 Whittle-tang knife shoulder bolster and 2 lead weights.
2 post-medieval coins, 7 pottery sherds, 3 buckle frames, 2 fragments of buckle frames, 6 buttons (2 lead), 1 harness mount/belt mount, 1 spur attachment and 1 crotal bell suspension loop.
Numismatic items identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and pottery and other objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 10 May 2008.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 6 February 2014.

April-May 2008. Metal-detecting.
1 Bronze Age blade from palstave or socketed axehead (S5).
1 Roman coin and 1 brooch (trumpet).
7 medieval coins, 1 two part strap end, 1 lead seal Matrix (inscription). 1 lead pot mend, 1 pottery sherd, 2 buckle frames, 1 tinned buckle plate, 1 horse harness fitting and 1 key fragment.
3 medieval/post-medieval vessel leg fragments.
1 post-medieval token, 1 coin weight, 1 rowel spur fragment, 1 lead cloth seal and 4 buttons (1 lead, 1 tinned).
Numismatic items identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 June 2008.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 3 March 2014.

January-February 2009. Metal-detecting.
6 medieval coins, an annular brooch and copper alloy seal matrix.
1 post-medieval coin and a purse frame fragment.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 March 2009. Expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 23 March 2025.

February/March 2010. Metal-detecting.
1 Late Prehistoric flint flake.
1 Roman coin.
1 medieval coin and a lead spindle whorl.
Post-medieval purse bar.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 April 2010. Expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 23 March 2025.

April-May 2010. Metal-detecting.
1 undatable fragment of iron slag and 1 burnt flint 'pot boiler'.
1 Late Prehistoric flint flake.
Early Bronze Age flint dagger (S6).
Middle Bronze Age/Late Bronze Age copper alloy knife or rapier fragment (S7).
1 medieval coin, 19 pottery sherds, a composite strap end, 4 lead weights, 2 lead pot mends and lead window came fragment.
2 medieval/post-medieval copper alloy ring and a copper alloy vessel fragment.
2 post-medieval pottery sherds, 2 buckles, a button, furniture stud or tack and incomplete pair of dividers.
?Post-medieval unidentified copper alloy object.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 29 June 2010. Expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 23 March 2025.

March-April 2010. Metal-detecting.
2 medieval coins.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 7 May 2010.

May-June 2010. Metal-detecting.
Late Iron Age strap union, probably from horse furniture.
1 Roman coin.
6 medieval, a buckle, suspension unit or holder from lamp/censer, gilt furniture stud, lead spindle whorl, lead seal matrix and lead ampulla.
6 post-medieval coins, a button and book clasp.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 July 2010. Expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 23 March 2025.

February 2022. Metal-detecting. [3].
1 medieval coin and buckles.
Post-medieval buckle and lead weight.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2023 and 28 January 2024.

May-June 2024. Metal-detecting. [4].
2 medieval coins.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy vessel fragment.
3 post-medieval coins, 2 buckles, a shoe buckle, strap clasp and lead cloth seal.
Information from PAS import.
Extended to whole field. Previous extent recorded as Context 75.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2025 and 3 May 2025.

May-June 2024. Metal-detecting. [5].
1 Roman to medieval lava quern fragment.
4 medieval coins, 2 buckles, a strap end, probable harness mount, lead ampulla and lead pot mend.
2 post-medieval coins, 2 buttons, a buckle, strap slide, crotal bell, probable keyhole cover from casket or box and medallion of Frederick the Great of Prussia.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2025, 22 June 2025 and 31 August 2025.

  • --- *Fieldwork: Fransham Survey. G73. AJGR.
  • --- *Fieldwork: Fransham Survey. G75. AJGR.
  • --- Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Late Saxon. Fransham, Great.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Fransham, Great [2].
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Aerial Photograph: v. RAF AP 3G TUD UK100 part IV 35292.
  • <S2> Archive: Fransham Field Walking Boxfile.
  • <S3> Thesis: Rogerson, A.. 1995. Fransham: an archaeological and historical study of a parish on the Norfolk boulder clay.
  • <S4> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2006. Drawing of a Late Saxon copper alloy buckle fragment. Film. 2:1.
  • <S5> Illustration: Ashley, S. 2008. Drawing of a ?Bronze Age copper alloy axehead fragment. Film. 1:1.
  • <S6> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2010. Drawing of an Early Bronze Age flint dagger. Film. 1:1.
  • <S7> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2010. Drawing of a probable Middle/Late Bronze Age coppper alloy knife or rapier blade fragment. Film. 1:1.
  • <S8> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2010. Drawing of an Iron Age copper alloy harness fitting. Film. 2:1.
  • POT BOILER (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Early Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 1501 BC)
  • AXEHEAD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • DAGGER (Early Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 1501 BC)
  • POT (Beaker - 2300 BC to 1700 BC)
  • KNIFE (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1600 BC to 701 BC)
  • RAPIER (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1600 BC to 701 BC)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
  • QUERN (Undated)
  • WHETSTONE (Undated)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 299 AD?)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN BLANK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • QUERN (Roman to Medieval - 43 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 125 AD to 138 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • AMPULLA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CAME (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CASTING WASTE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CHAFING DISH (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT MEND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • QUERN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1205 AD to 1207 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1205 AD to 1210 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1247 AD to 1277 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1250 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1251 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1280 AD to 1281 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval to 16th Century - 1300 AD to 1600 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1307 AD to 1309 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1344 AD to 1351 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1344 AD to 1351 AD)
  • AMPULLA (Medieval to 16th Century - 1350 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1413 AD to 1422 AD?)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1413 AD to 1422 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1422 AD to 1490 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1461 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUTTON (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1504 AD to 1509 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BRICK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1540 AD to 1650 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CLOTH SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CROTAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FERRULE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POWDER MEASURE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PURSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • ROWEL SPUR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SPUR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1544 AD to 1547 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1650 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1650 AD)
  • KEYHOLE FITTING (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1700 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1700 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1700 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1554 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century to 17th Century - 1558 AD to 1603 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1567 AD to 1567 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1567 AD to 1567 AD)
  • CLOTH SEAL (16th Century to 17th Century - 1575 AD to 1700 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1580 AD to 1581 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century to 17th Century - 1582 AD to 1603 AD)
  • BUTTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • CROTAL (16th Century to 18th Century - 1600 AD to 1800 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1604 AD to 1619 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1625 AD to 1634 AD)
  • WEIGHT (17th Century - 1625 AD to 1685 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1636 AD to 1642 AD)
  • BUCKLE (17th Century to 18th Century - 1660 AD to 1720 AD)
  • BUCKLE (17th Century to 18th Century - 1660 AD to 1720 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century to 18th Century - 1695 AD to 1701 AD)
  • MEDALLION (18th Century - 1757 AD to 1757 AD)

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Record last edited

Mar 25 2026 9:44AM

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