NHER 42167 (Monument record) - Medieval to post medieval rectilinear enclosure and drainage ditch

November 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of a rectilinear enclosure and drainage ditch of medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S3). These earthworks are centred on TG 4991 0821. The enclosure is rectilinear in plan and is defined by a 2.8m wide ditch on three sides. The northwestern side of the enclosure is defined by an extant drainage ditch. Internally the enclosure measures 15m by 10m. The ditch along the southwest side of the enclosure continues for a further 72m to its southeast. The position of the enclosure on the marshland, and its relationship to the drainage ditches, indicates that it is of medieval or post medieval date. Similar enclosures have been identified in other areas of 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’ (S4). The field containing this enclosure had been ploughed by October 1964 (S3), but the enclosure was still visible as a soilmark.
J. Albone (NMP), 21 November 2005.

January-February 2023. Earthwork Survey.
Analytical earthwork survey undertaken ahead of proposed habitat improvement works.
An initial topographic survey identified a faint trace of the main north-west to south-east aligned feature. This was though at the margins of the area examined and so outside of the areas that were then subject to more traditional interpretive surveys.
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 August 2024.