NHER 27901 (Monument record) - Earthworks of medieval salterns

March 1989. Site visit (possibly this location or NHER 27897).
[1]'s saltings mound is a natural feature of pure silt.
See (S1) in file.
J. Wymer (NAU), 8 March 1989.

June 2003. Norfolk NMP.
Three low irregular to sub-rounded mounds are visible on RAF photographs taken in 1945 (S2), centred on TF 6279 2175, TF 6289 2169 and TF 6296 2176. The western two mounds are sub-rounded in plan, and have maximum diameters of 52m and 66m. The easternmost mound is less regular and elongated, with a north to south length of 210m, and a width of 72m. This feature may have formed down the side of a saltmarsh channel. These are almost certainly medieval saltern mounds, formed by piles of waste sand discarded during salt processing. They are part of a large group of mounds on the former saltmarsh to the east and north of King’s Lynn.
The western mound within this group may be the site inspected by John Wymer on 8 March 1989 (see file for NHER 27897). It is described as a natural feature of pure silt. However the waste from sand washing may be pure silt or sand, not necessarily containing burnt material or cultural artefacts.
M. Brennand (NMP), 26 June 2003.

April-May 2021. Trial Trenching and Excavation.
Archaeological work undertaken prior to the redevelopment of part of this site revealed a range of features associated with medieval salt production. The main group of remains (which was the focus of a small excavation undertaken following the completion of the trial trenching) lay at TF 6298 2171 and therefore coincided with the southern end of the largest saltern mound in this group. A range of tanks were recorded, along with a number of oven-type structures. It is unclear at present whether any surviving deposits associated with the saltern mound itself were recorded.
See NHER 66859 and initial assessment report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 April 2023.