NHER 26941 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Medieval to post medieval earthworks in Hunstanton Park

July 2001. Norfolk NMP.
A site consisting of earthworks possible relating to medieval activity or settlement prior to the establishment of Hunstanton Park and also post-medieval landscaped features that form part of the changing design and use of the park. The earthworks are situated to the south of Hunstanton Hall and gardens (NHER 1117) and within Hunstanton Park (30464). These earthworks are visible on 1946 RAF aerial photographs (S1) on Hunting Survey photographs from 1969 (S2), CUCAP oblique aerial photograph from 1967 to 1973 (S3-5) and NMR oblique aerial photograph from 2000 (S6-9). See record NHER 1117 for earlier descriptions and interpretations of this site and details of the Hall.

The Hall and the moats are situated on the lowest ground on the Park, which is located on Boulder Clays. This topography has necessitated quite a complex drainage system being implemented across the Park. The drains nearest the Hall feed water into the moats. It is therefore likely that some of the ditches mapped are part of the post-medieval drainage of the parkland. Three of the ditches mapped in the north-western corner of the site, appear to join drainage channels, rather than being cut by them. Although it must be borne in mind that existing ditches could have been re-cut as drainage channels.

The earthworks to the west have previously been interpreted as those of a formal garden (see 1117 for details of this interpretation). This is possible, especially as they surround the Octagon banqueting/music house. Although, none of the estate maps reproduced by Williamson (1998) (S12) depict any such gardens at this location, in fact on the 1765 map this area seems to be wooded. No mention of it is made during the discussion of the 1615 map of the park layout. The earthworks were recently visited by Helen Paterson, who noted that the features were hard to see in the grass and that the long linear earthwork, from TF 6933 to TF 6921 4166, may be the remains of a fishpond. It is possible that these earthworks are pre-park features, possibly relating to an area of medieval settlement or activity cleared to create the deer park in the late fifteenth century. Helen Paterson has suggested that an earthwork survey of this area be undertaken, see record NHER 1117 for details.

A substantial banked hollow way feature runs from TF 6931 4174 to TF 6931 4157. The ditched element is approximately 3m wide, with the bank on either side, reaching up to 4m across. The eastern bank appears to be the more substantial of the two earthworks, appearing slightly higher on the photos. This feature seems to curve round to the west, possibly linking up with another potential hollow way, described below. The majority of the earthworks are bounded to the east by this linear and in some cases cut by it, apart from two small mounds at TF 6936 4168. The largest of these features is 6m across and sub-angular in shape and appear to be flat-topped. Also there are two parallel linear banks, running from TF 6935 4162 to TF 6940 4163 and TF 6938 4158 to TF 6941 4160.

A bank and ditch runs from TF 6933 4167 to TF 6921 4166, perpendicular to the linears that curve around the east of the site. The full extent of these earthworks are obscured by trees and shadow, especially that of the bank. The shadow on these linears suggests that they are well-defined earthworks. The bank is approximately 4.5m wide and the ditch varies from 3m to 4m wide. These earthworks are cut by a slight ditch, which appears to relate to a relatively modern trackway, as it cuts across the whole site, from TF 6925 4150 to TF 6952 4167. At TF 6932 4168 is a sub-rectangular mound, up to 10m by 17m. This may be the remains of a raised garden bed. Although if some of these earthworks relate to pre-park activity, it is possible that this is a building platform. To the north, centred at TF 6928 4172, are a series of low banks, up to 1m wide. The banks vary in length from 10m to 60m. They appear to create small, enclosed areas, up to 20m wide and 50m long. Again these may be planting beds, or possible small agricultural plots, depending upon the antiquity of the features. At TF 6919 4169 is a bank, 95m long and 3,5m wide, with a right-angled turn in its course. To the east of this is a ditch, 25m long, 3m wide and again has a right-angled course. At TF 6932 4165 are a cluster of linear banks, up to 2m wide and 14m in length. There is also another sub-rectangular platform, 12m by 6m. To the south is a second, slightly raised platform, up to 13m across. The western edge of which continues as a bank, for 18m to the north. Parallel to this is another bank, up to 4m wide. These two linears form a funnel-like feature leading towards the eastern curvilinear bank and ditch.

To the south of these, at TF 6929 4161, are a group of linear banks and mounds. A linear runs east-west out from the eastern boundary, 50m long and around 4m wide. Seemingly co-joined to this are several raised areas, which all appear to have been cut by the later path, mentioned above. It is possible that these were originally one sub-rectangular platform, potentially up to 20m by 30m. In between this features and the main eastern boundary are many smaller and more irregular mounds and linears. Several of which have rectilinear elements. To the west of these earthworks is a broad, low bank, 63m by 6.5m. To the immediate south-east is a square sunken feature, 5m across, surrounded by up-cast. Bounding these features to the south is a broad ditch, running from TF 6916 4149 to TF 6930 4156, approximately 160m long and 4m wide, flanked by an irregular bank of up-cast to the north. Almost perpendicular to this is another, more well-defined ditch. This upper linear seems to join with the main drainage channel and therefore may also be a drain. Although it does correspond with the break in the drain depicted on the map.

The earthwork of a well-defined sunken linear runs through Hunstanton Park (30464). The broad, relatively shallow ditch curves round following the 10m OD contour round from TF 6928 4152 to TF 6912 4142. At this point it kinks in to meet ‘Geddings Pit’, an oval pond. The linear then continues on a slightly meandering course, south east across the park, fading out at TF 6935 4106. The linear varies from 5m to 20m in width. Immediately south of Gedding Pit, from TF 6911 4141 to TF 6914 4133, a later drainage channel appears to have been cut into the side of the hollow. Parallel to the southern end of this is a second hollow of similar dimensions and depth. This runs from TF 6931 4113 to TF 6941 4100, until the edge of Holly Mount plantation. Along some of its length the ditch has an accompanying bank, up to 3m wide. This tends to be fairly irregular and is likely to be up-cast from the creation or maintenance of this feature. Continuing to the south is further ditch and bank, which stands as an earthwork in 1946 (S1) and is later showing as cropmarks. The ditch can be seen running from TF 6950 4090 – TF 6960 4078, 150m long and between 4 and 6m wide. Its course is broken midway by a modern path. Running alongside this linear, to the south, is a bank. This earthwork started at TF 6956 4084 and ended at TF 6962 4073 and prior to its levelling it was acting as a field and parish boundary. As it stood the bank was approximately 120m long and up to 11m wide. The RAF 1946 photos (S1) suggested that it was a relatively flat-topped mound. This feature follows the parish boundary to the woodland and then further south as the woodland ends, a funnelled route-way, approximately 15m across can be seen fossilised in field and woodland boundaries. This again follows the parish boundary, it is possible that in the pre-park landscape that these two features were connected.

It is possible that this hollow way has much older origins. One of the suggested routes for the Icknield Way approach Hunstanton from the south joining with the line of the parish boundary (see NHER 1398). At present the line of the road through north through Hunstanton itself is not known. It must therefore be considered a possibility that this linear may be marking the line of earlier prehistoric routeway, which may have continued in use until the medieval period and the creation of the Park.

This linear appears to act as a boundary to various, smaller linear earthworks in the parkland and to some possible areas of possible ridge and furrow. The 1969 Hunting Survey verticals (S2) and a CUCAP image of 1970 (S4), both taken during low light, show evidence of slight earthwork ridge and furrow, that is not visible on other photos. Nine possible areas where these features survive can be identified, the ridges in all cases seem to vary in width from 3 to 7m. One centred on TF 69031 4123, covers on area of 130m by 120m. This field is bounded to the north-west and south-east by well-defined ditches, 3m wide. A second field is situated to the immediate south-east, centred at TF 6942 4117. The earthworks appear to cover an area 220m by 95m, although they may extend further to the south-east, but this part of the park is in shadow on the photos. A third area is centred upon TF 6955 4140, approximately 285m by 100m. Shadow and woodland obscures the western extent, the south-eastern edge appears to be defined by a glacial ridge running through the park. To the east of this is another smaller area of earthworks, at TF 6970 4136, approximately 80m square. These ridges are bounded to the south-east by a low bank, 10m wide. This field and bank can be seen to continue on the other side of the Heart Plantation, for another 40m where it is cut by the old park road. The sixth is centred at TF 6909 4118 and is 125m by 75m. The ridges appear to be up to 5m wide. The field is bounded to the south by a well-defined ditch, 5m across. A short stretch of bank appears to mark the northern extent. The western edge is also bounded by a bank, 110m long and up to 10m wide. This feature is situated along the line of the original western road around the park, depicted on early estate maps (reproduced by Williamson, 1998) (S12), it is therefore possible that this linear is either part of a park boundary or the raised road itself.

A seventh area of possible ridge and furrow is located at TF 6895 4088. It is approximately 140m by 50m, bounded to the east by a narrow ditch and to the east by a broad bank, 6m wide. The ridge and furrow in this area is extremely well-defined and up to 6m wide. The features possibly continue to the east, as a section of bank can be identified, but shadow obscures the majority of the area. A further other two areas of ridge and furrow are much more faint. One is situated to the south of the first, separated by a series of banks and ditches, later features which turn 90º to the south and continue over the top of the faint earthworks. The area is 110m by 80m and centred on TF 6912 4106. A fourth area has been identified, although this is not definite. Centred at TF 6921 4112 and approximately 270m by 80m, this area is suggested by undulations and furrows in the ground, coming off the later drains cutting through the area.

Several of the features mapped are obviously part of the post-medieval landscaping of the park. To the east of the Hunstanton Hall site (NHER 1117) are earthworks which may of an earlier, post-medieval approach road to the Hall. The earthworks consist of a well-defined and regular hollow way, 2.5m - 3m wide, flanked by a close set bank, up to 1m wide, on either side. Set back approximately 4m to either side are larger, parallel banks, up to 3m across. A second, less well-defined ditch, approximately 2m wide, adjoins the main linear. Another hollowed trackway can be followed, running along the field boundary to the east. This earthwork can be seen on 1967 CUCAP photos (S3) to continue into the triangular plantation to the south. This route is also marked as a trackway on the 2nd edition Map (S11). Reference to estate maps reproduced by Williamson (1998) suggests that by 1765 this route was the main road and boundary around the east of the park and remained as such until the park was expanded between 1835 and 1844 (S12).

The hollow of the east-west park road, 5m wide, is clearly visible on 1946 RAF (S1) verticals appears to be cutting through enclosure (NHER 1284), running from TF 6951 4091 to TF 6974 4103. It is possible that this is one of the three roads removed in the C16th when the park was expanded. Although reference to maps published by Tom Williamson (1998) (S12), suggests that on the 1765 estate map a fence or park pale can be seen to run along the course of the hollow or road. On the 1820 estate map an actual road is marked running along a similar route. It is possible that the linear was originally a fenced boundary that was later developed into a road as the park expanded.

Another post-medieval feature, centred at TF 6962 4124, is an almost rectangular banked enclosure; the south-eastern end of which is rounded, rather than straight. The bank is approximately 2-3m wide and the area enclosed is 160m by 70m. It is likely that this feature is an old woodland boundary. Reference to the estate maps reproduced by Tom Williamson, the 1765 map depicts a rectangular plantation at this location, which has been removed by the map of 1820 (S12). To the east of this is a bank, approximately 4m wide, running from TF 6952 4123 to TF 6957 4114. Within the woodland to either side of this bank on the 1902-7 2nd ed. Maps (25") (S11) a trackway can be seen to cut through the woods. On the Faden’s Map of 1797(S10), a tree-lined avenue is depicted as linking the Hall and Park House. It is possible that this is a remnant of slightly raised road or track across the park towards the hunting Lodge.

Other features would also appear later include a series of parallel banks, centred on TF 6925 4106. These vary in structure from two closely set banks, 1.5-2m wide, to one larger bank, 4m wide, where the two features have become amalgamated into one. This bank turns at TF 6924 4109 and continue due south as two 1m wide banks. Running parallel to this, 16m to the east, is a stretch of segmented bank, up to 2m wide and 115m long. It seems likely that these banks are the remains of hedge or fence lines.

Further east are another group of banks, centred at TF 6920 4106. Several of the banks may originally have formed a rectilinear enclosure, 90m long and up to 50m wide, but it has been very disturbed by the cutting of drains. This may have been a stock enclosure or an early plantation feature. The southern end of a linear bank, 350 m long and 3.5m wide, cuts across this feature. The northern end of this bank runs alongside a curvilinear ditch, 115m long and 3m wide, which is centred at TF 6915 4123. This is likely have been some sort of ornamental feature within the park. This feature is also bounded to the east by another long linear bank, which runs almost parallel to the possible hollow way. This bank terminates at TF 6930 4109 and then its alignment is continued by a ditch, flanked by two close set banks; the whole sequence is 7.5m across. The system of closely set and segmented banks and enclosures are likely to be hedge and fence lines, possibly dating to the early C17th, when the park is known to have had a compartmentalised design (Williamson, 1998:43) (S12). The majority of the earthworks in the park appear to be cut by the long linear banks, running NW-SE, and also the drainage system, which are obviously later schemes in the development of the park.

It is hard to establish the relationships between many of the earthworks, as the park will have been subject to much hard and soft landscaping, in addition to the creation of the drainage system. It is possible that the hollow ways, banks and ditches, raised mounds and possible areas of ridge and furrow, relate to some medieval settlement or activity on the site. However, the earthworks do not appear to be a straightforward medieval settlement, which was emparked in the late fifteenth century. Any earlier features will now be confused with the post-medieval landscape features, such as fence lines and wood banks and roads through the park.
S. Massey (NMP), 11 July 2001.