NHER 42162 (Monument record) - Earthworks of a rectangular enclosure

November 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of a rectilinear enclosure of medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1) to (S3). This enclosure is located at TG 4951 0854. It is rectangular in plan and is defined on three sides by a 3m wide ditch. The north side was formed by an extant curvilinear drainage ditch (NHER 42417). Internally the enclosure measures 18m by 15.5m. The position of this enclosure on the marshland indicates that it is of medieval to post medieval date. It is similar to others visible as earthworks on the marshland, with one located 310m to the southwest (NHER 42164). 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’ (S4). The field containing this enclosure had been ploughed and the earthworks levelled by 1980 although it was still visible as a soilmark (S3)
J. Albone (NMP), 21 November 2005