NHER 27832 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Medieval enclosure

June 2002. Norfolk NMP.
The feature appears as an east to west aligned length of bank that turns at a right-angle to the south at its eastern end (S1). The feature has an east to west length of 91m and a north to south length of 52m. The feature could potentially continue to the west (now occupied by a wood) and to the south (now occupied by the farm). There appears to be a ditch on the northern side of the east to west stretch of the bank. A section of ditch leads from the enclosure ditch and forms an irregular curvilinear feature, to the immediate north, which appears to encircle a parched area. This may represent an outwork to the enclosure, but may not necessarily be related. The feature may equally be a natural mound or the remnants of a medieval saltern mound, although the latter are not prevalent in the area.
The feature may simply be part of post-medieval land division, drainage and sea defence system, built specifically to delineate and protect the farm, although the farm does exploit a natural 10m high rise already. However, the feature may form part of a small defensive enclosure or earthwork exploiting the knoll now occupied by the farm. It could date from any period from the Iron Age onwards.
To the south of the linear feature and to the immediate north of the farm garden is a curvilinear ditch, which still appears as an earthwork in 1969 (S1). This is probably a modern garden feature.
M. Brennand (NMP), 26 June 2002.