NHER 43199 (Monument record) - Roman building and multi-period finds

1990s. Stray Find.
Found at [1] by [2]:
1 "Meso flint axe".
This information comes from the Norwich Castle Museum's records but although a site number was assigned [3] no description has been found. It is however possible that this was one of a number of objects with a general 'Blackford Hall' provenance that were recorded by P. Robins (NCM) in 1999. These objects had been found by the same individual and are recorded under NHER 9890.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 September 2016.

January-February 2006. metal-detecting.
13 Roman coins, 1 ?military horse harness pendant, 1 furniture nail and 1 brooch (?Dolphin-type).
1 medieval coin and 1 thimble.
1 ?medieval unidentified object rivet.
2 post-medieval lead weights.
Coins identified by J. Davies (NCM) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 19 March 2006.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 3 April 2014.

February 2006. Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group fieldwalking and metal detecting.
Roman building materials found, including tesserae, roof tile, pottery.
Further details to come.
See (S1).
J. Allen (NLA), 13 February 2006.

February-March 2006. Metal-detecting.
7 Roman coins and 1 braclet fragment.
1 medieval harness strap-end (gilt) and 1 iron horse shoe (Clarkes type 4).
1 post-medieval coin.
1 undated ?casting waste lump.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 April 2006.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 3 April 2014.

July 2006. Geophysical survey.
See preliminary results in file.
Details of precise location and/or report to follow.
D. Gurney (NLA), 13 September 2006.

March 2007. Geophysical survey.
Details to come.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 29 May 2007.

March-April 2007. Metal-detecting.
10 Roman coins and 1 disc brooch.
1 medieval book clasp.
1 medieval/post-medieval ring.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 May 2007.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 3 April 2014.

April-May 2007. Metal detecting.
4 more Roman coins.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 June 2007.

August 2007. Aerial photography.
The cropmarks and are shown on aerial photographs taken by M. Page

Spring 2007. Trial Excavations.
Three trenches were excavated over the site of the Roman building. The first trench was opened over the irregular polygonal apse that seemed to form the focus of the Roman complex. A field boundary was clearly identified and its fill contained a handle from a 13th century jug, residual sherds of Roman pottery and a post- medieval iron hoe head. A post hole was identified, and its fill contained a large surviving piece of wood at the base. This suggested a date of c. 1680-1960 and probably represented a fence associated with the field boundary. The post-hole cut the Roman apse wall which survived only as a foundation. It was built with lime mortar mixed with clay and small pieces of brick and flint.
The second, most northerly trench was opened to investigate a northern line of post- holes where they crossed a room of the villa. The eastern wall of the room survived as a strip of pale green clay. Three post holes were identified in the northern section of the trench, and their fills contained large amounts of roof tile and painted plaster. Sherds of Roman grey ware, a sherd of possible Early- Middle Saxon pottery and two possible sherds of Iron Age pottery were also identified. Two post- holes seemed to cut the walls of the villa. A well- preserved hearth was found adjacent to a wall on its western exterior. The hearth was in the form of a horseshoe, with a base made of a whole tegula. Analysis of the burnt deposits in the hearth suggested forging of iron was taking place.
A third trench was opened up between the first and second trench with the intention of excavating two further post- holes and investigating a large square anomaly visible on the aerial photograph. An area of rammed clay was revealed, with an overlying burnt layer. This produced a possible stratified coin dating from AD 271-274. Rammed clay foundations of the Roman building were also visible. Two large post-holes were identified in the northern part of the trench, the fills of which contained Roman grey ware.
See (S2) for further information and (S3) for aerial photographs showing the cropmarks and excavation.
H. White (NLA) 16 January 2009.

August 2008.
Four small trial trenches were excavated over the site of the Roman building located by geophysical survey, which revealed a number of well-preserved walls, a possible construction layer, a spread of building debris or possible courtyard surface and a dark ashy deposit with evidence of metalworking. Floor deposits do not appear to have survived. There were few finds, apart from copious tile.
See digital photos.
D. Gurney (NLA), 13 August 2008.

2008. Excavation.
Prehistoric worked flints were found during the NAHRG 2008 excavation.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 18 March 2010.

Autumn-Winter 2008. Metal Detecting
Two Roman coins, probably from the NAHRG 2008 excavation backfill.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 February 2009.

February-March 2011. Metal-detecting.
Six Roman coins.
See lists in file.
A. Marsden (HES), 14 April 2011.

September 2012. Metal-detecting. [3].
Nine Roman coins and a horse harness pendant.
Medieval copper alloy buckle frame.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy ring.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 2 November 2012.

15 October 2012. Metal-detecting. [4].
Late prehistoric flint flakes, a notched blade and an end scraper.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 4 December 2012.

February-March 2014. Metal-detecting. [5].
5 Roman coins.
2 medieval coins.
Post-medieval harness mount.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 1 May 2014.

September 2017. Metal-detecting. [6].
7 Roman coins and a harness pendant.
Medieval strap fitting.
Post-medieval lead cloth seal.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 2 May 2018. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 May 2021.

May 2020. National Mapping Programme (NMP) Data Clean-Up.
The site described above was mapped as part of the Norwich, Thetford and A11 NMP project but no record was added the NHER. Cropmarks visible at the site were recorded separately as NHER 52240, because their relationship with the building remains was uncertain. Only an elongated light-coloured soilmark visible on aerial photographs taken in 1969 (S4) was thought to relate to the building and recorded as part of NHER 43199.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council, Historic Environment Service), 29 May 2020.