NHER 4194 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks relating to medieval settlement

1969.
Earthworks around possible moat noted by P. Wade-Martins (NAU).

19 April 1976. Ordnance Survey air photograph.
Features visible.
E. Rose (NAU).

25 May 1978. Visit.
Moat shaped pond has what may be remains of larger dry arms to north. Other earthworks under pasture are low humps. E. Rose (NAU).

1991. Visit.
Area of earthworks extended to north and west after site visit. Earthworks stand to some 0.7m to 1m in places.
See (S1).
H. Paterson (A&E) 13 October 1992.

1994. Earthwork Survey.
1:1000 survey. Features include several sub rectangular ditched enclosures, one short curved section of probable hollow way, and several lengths of flint and brick masonry indicative of a late medieval date. Several unlinked ponds are distinctive features, including one with a short length of flint and brick revetting and one of moat form with a small interior raised platform.
See report (S2) for plan and further details. This site was included in (S3) and the survey is also noted in (S4).
B. Cushion (NLA), December 1994. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 February 2014.

December 2008- January 2009. Metal detecting.
Late Saxon buckle, 1 medieval coin, medieval sherd, medieval/post-medieval weight & thimble,
see lists in file
A. Rogerson (NLA) 13 March 2009

January 2024. Wendling Beck and Fransham Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
Earthworks relating to medieval settlement features (see above), are seen on aerial photographs and relatively recent (2017) visualised lidar data (S5-S15). The features include a series of boundary banks and ditches, some of which may relate to possible property boundaries and field boundaries, probable enclosures, ridge and furrow, drainage ditches, a hollow way and a possible section of road. A moated platform can be seen in the east of the area (centred at approximately TF 8729 1482). It has been previously suggested that this feature was not occupied (S3). The features most likely date to the medieval period. However, it is possible that some of the features could be post medieval in date. A number of ponds are also seen across the site on the consulted sources. These features have not been mapped as they have been recorded in good detail on the readily accessible historic maps (such as S16). The majority of the earthworks are visible on the relatively recent (2017) visualised lidar data and likely still survive as earthworks. Some of the features, such as the ridge and furrow, appear to have been levelled. Although it is possible that these features could still survive as a very low earthwork.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 16 January 2024.