NHER 26803 (Monument record) - Earthworks of probable post medieval sea and flood defences

April 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Three stretches of linear bank visible alongside the Heacham Harbour tidal creek, visible on vertical aerial photographs from RAF in 1946 (S1) and OS in 1967 (S2). These banks are likely to be sea/flood defences against the tidal creek inundating the surrounding land. Also possibly an attempt to maintain the route of the creek against shifting. They may also relate to the enclosing and draining of the surrounding saltmarsh. These features are likely to be post-medieval in date, although it is possible that they are medieval.
Two banks flank the eastern/landward side. The remains of a creek in the saltmarsh divide these and may have broken through the bank at some point. Although it is possible they were originally two separate stretches of bank. The southern one is 350m long and the northern one is 550m. Both are between 4-5m wide. A stretch of bank also flanks the western/seaward side of the Harbour Creek to the north. This is 300m long and 4m wide.
S. Massey (NMP), 26th April 2002.

August 2025. Northwest Norfolk Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AI&M) Project (volunteer strand).
Some sections of the probable post medieval sea defences described above are visible as earthworks on visualised lidar data from a survey flown in 2018 (S3). It is probable that they still survive.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 12 August 2025.