NHER 42161 (Monument record) - Earthworks of a rectangular enclosure

November 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of a small rectangular enclosure of medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1). This enclosure is located at TG 4986 0868. It is sub-rectangular to sub-oval in plan and lies on a northwest to southeast axis. It is defined by a narrow ditch and measures 13m by 7m externally. A 3.8m wide gap is present in the ditch at the northwestern end of the enclosure where the ditch meets a drainage channel. The position of this enclosure on the marshland indicates that it must be of medieval to post medieval date. Other enclosures of a similar size, and larger rectilinear enclosures, are present across the marshland. Information from [1] suggests that these enclosures are probably sheep cotes. They 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’ (S2). The field had been ploughed and the earthworks levelled by 1970 (S3).
J. Albone (NMP), 21 November 2005