NHER 42157 (Monument record) - Earthwork enclosure of possible medieval to post medieval date

November 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of a small trapezoidal enclosure of medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). This enclosure is located at TG 4930 0965 immediately south of the River Bure. Three sides of the enclosure are defined by a 3m wide ditch, with the western side formed by an extant drainage ditch. Internally, there is a raised platform that measures up to 16m by 16m across. The location of this enclosure on the marshland indicates that it must be of medieval to post medieval date. Other similar earthwork enclosures are present across the marshland with the closest located 400m to the southeast (NHER 42158). Information from [1] suggests that these enclosures are probably sheep cotes. These small enclosures were used to pen sheep overnight so that their manure could be collected. The manure was then transported from the marshes for use as fertiliser on arable fields on the ‘upland’ (S3). It is possible that they may have also included a shepherd's hut. The field had been ploughed and the earthworks levelled by 1963 (S4).
J. Albone (NMP), 21 November 2005