NHER 4283 (Monument record) - Shouldham shrunken medieval village

1970. Field 352 south of church.
Site of shrunken village.
11th -13th/14th century sherds including green-glazed and fragment of glazed tile found in scatter after ploughing.
Information from member of the public [1].
(NCM card).

1974.
Very fine earthworks including hollow way running east-west from church to Colts Hall continue site around to west of church.
Note plan in (S1) is over-simplified.
A. Rogerson (NAU).

1 July 1976. Ordnance Survey aerial photography.
Earthworks visible.
D. Voisey (NLA) 20 February 1995.

1979.
Further earthworks revealed to northwest as far as former Hall Grounds on Unit aerial photography.

7 August 1980.
Earthworks still intact.
E. Rose (NAU).

29 September 1983.
North earthworks found in 1979 comprise large ?house platform, deep depressions on north and east as shown on 1:2500 Ordnance Survey, but also on south not on OS, and central dividing arm very faint.
Threatened by development - recommended for scheduling.
A. Rogerson (NAU).

However fieldwork plan given by source [1] to A. Gregory (NAU) 1986 shows at the house platform in northwest corner mentioned the site of the excavated post medieval house site with post medieval pits formerly located by source [1] further north, first at 4255/context 5 and afterwards at 4255/context 13 which he insisted was correct at the time. Which is correct? No sign of excavation noted here by A. Rogerson (NAU).
E. Rose (NAU) 5 February 1987.

22 July 1993. NLA aerial photography.
Earthworks clearly visible.
M. Brennand (NLA) 7 February 2001.

28 April 1994. NLA Air photography.
Earthworks showing very clearly on photos.
The main rectangular enclosures (aligned north-south) are particularly well defined as are the east-west holloway and boundaries. The ridge and furrow to the southeast is not discernable. The tofts to the northwest are just included at the edge of the prints.
Post Medieval house to the west also visible.
S. Massey (NLA) 6 February 2001.

24 June 1994.
Earthworks still in good condition under untouched pasture.
No earthworks in small poplar wood immediately to west.
E. Rose (NLA).

Owner died recently. Probate under way [1] a beneficiary.
Any change of ownership will be notified to Helen Paterson (NLA).
Earthworks under good grass cover with no disturbance.
H. Paterson (NLA) 6 December 1995.

1st edition 25in Ordnance Survey 1883 shows a pound in southwest corner of field.
Copy in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 25 January 1996.

This seems to have entirely disappeared (seen from car in passing).
E. Rose (NLA) 15 February 1996.

1996. Earthwork Survey.
Survey at 1:1000.
Late Saxon/medieval pottery sherds found.
Pottery identified by A. Rogerson (NLA).
See report (S4) for further details. This site is amongst those included in (S5) and the survey is also noted in (S6).
B. Cushion (NLA) March 1996.

Plan and photo in file.

October 2001.
Site in good condition, occassionally grazed by cattle and/or cut for hay. Some areas of 'hollows' colonised by nettles/thistles where cutting by machine is impossible.
Possible Section 17 grant to be offered to owner [2].
H. Paterson (NLA) 18 October 2001.

November 2001.
Section 17 Management Agreement signed 16 November 2001.
See copy in office file.
H. Paterson (NLA) 30 November 2001.

May 2002.
Site scheduled.
See file.
J. Allen (NLA) 6 June 2002.

January 2003.
Site extremely wet, especially at bottom on sloping field to west. Good grass cover. Grazed by cattle in summer months, nettles and thistles cut. A little poaching under two mature trees southeast of church. One rabbit hole under thorn northwest of church.
H. Paterson (A&E) 28 January 2003.

June 2004. Visit.
Good grass cover with a few thistle/nettle patches. Poaching limited to a small area of slippage on bank, and under two mature trees and scrub W of church. Summer grazing will continue, with nettles/thistles being 'topped' in the autumn.
H. Paterson (A&E) 24 June 2004.

February 2007.
Renewed Section 17 management agreement signed; backdated to November 2006. It covers the majority, but not all, of the Scheduled Monument.
See (S2).
D. Robertson (NLA) 16 April 2007.

July 2013.
Renewed Section 17 management agreement signed.
See (S3).
D. Robertson (NLA) 28 January 2014.