NHER 27083 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post medieval and modern sea defences

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
A post medieval sea defence bank can be seen on Ordnance Survey 1973 (S1 to S2) and 1995 (S3) aerial photographs as well as on the RAF 1946 images (S4). It defends an area of reclaimed land to the north of Cley next the Sea. This bank initially runs north from Cley, along the side of the channel, from TG0463 4410 to TG0478 4527. However, on reaching the Coastguard Lookout at NGR TG0478 4524 it appears to have once turned to run east for a short distance (to NGR TG0503 4521) between the spit/beach and the reclaimed grazing land (on the landward side of it). This turn is still apparent on the RAF images, however, this section is less clear on the Ordnance Survey images although the bank can be clearly seen to carry on (after a short break) from NGR TG0492 4517. This ‘gap’ in the bank is evident on the current Ordnance Survey 1:10000 base map (S5).
The whole of this bank is plotted on the Ordnance Survey 2nd edition map (S6), and can also be determined on the Ordnance Survey 1 inch 1st edition (S7).
In addition to this, just to the north of Cley (at the southern end of the main bank) there appears to be two further stretches of bank. The first of these runs from the main bank at NGR TG 0459 4412 to TG0454 4404 (a short distance to the west). The second of these runs from the main bank at NGR TG0459 4417 and curves round to TG 0478 4417 (a short distance to the east). Both of these sections of bank are visible on the 25 inch 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map (S6), and at least the first of them appears to be visible on the Ordnance Survey 1:10560 first edition map (S8).
H. Clare (NMP), 17 October 2002 and 15 January 2003.

May-November 2004. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey.
Inter-tidal survey (Environmental Zone 11), Context 890:
A modern sea bank was recorded between TG 04788 45270 and TG 04568 44151. It may have concealed an earlier bank/banks.
Inter-tidal survey (Environmental Zone 12), Context 126:
A curving sea defence bank with was located to the south of the modern shingle bank (from TG 04871 45213 to TG 05002 45215). It is 'Henry's Bank', a bank recorded on (S7).
See assessment report (S9) for further details.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.421).
J. Allen (NLA), 20 April 2005. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2019.