NHER 38286 (Monument record) - Multi-period earthworks of possible platform, linear mound, ditches

PART OF THIS SITE WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AS NHER 1545.

Ordnance Survey aerial photograph; faint marks.
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

RAF aerial photograph 1946 (presumably the one meant by Clarke) checked by E. Rose (NLA) 27 September 1999; nothing at this point except some very faint geological marks.

August 2001. Norfolk NMP.
A series of linear ditches and possible raised areas of ground on a site where multi-period artefacts have been recovered, recorded under NHER 1545 and 22010. To the east of the area is a large cut or worn ditch or depression running in an east to west direction, following the contour line along the north side of the valley. This appears to be an extensive boundary ditch or more likely a hollow way. Within the centre of the site there is a large curvi-linear ditch aligned in an approximate north to south direction. To the east of the feature there are two raised areas of ground. The southern anomaly may represent the remains of a bank and the northern anomaly may represent the remains of a small platform or area of terraced ground. Equally this feature may be some from of dam or water diversion associated with water meadows.
To the west there is a sub-rectangular area of level ground (centre: TF 6900 2333) with the traces of a narrow ditch on its western and southern sides. This may simply be a field or enclosure with a drainage ditch, but it does have the appearance of a large building platform or terrace, and may be associated with buildings or settlement. There are two fragments of north-to-south aligned ditch to the south that are likely to be drainage ditches.
There are prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval finds from this area and it appears to have been the focus of activity and probably settlement for a long period. These features could also date from any period, although the nature and definition of the features suggests a medieval date is most likely.
M. Brennand (NMP), 15 August 2001.