NHER 43631 (Monument record) - Ring ditch, possibly a post medieval stack stand

September 2005. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmark of a possible ring ditch of unknown definite date is visible on aerial photographs, to the south of Sea Breeze campsite, Eccles-on-Sea (S1). The most likely archaeological explanation for the feature is a post medieval circular stack stand, although it is also possible that the cropmark is of more recent agricultural origin.

The ring ditch is centred on TG 4211 2780 and is 19m in diameter. The western arc of the ring is not visible. One side of the ditch coincides with the tramline running through the field and therefore it is possible that this ring ditch is agricultural in origin, although the aerial photograph evidence is not conclusive and therefore the site may be archaeological. A fainter semi-circular cropmark was also visible 60m to the east, although this was not mapped, as it was so ephemeral.

The site is located on the upper edge of the alluvial and fen deposits associated with the Thurne Valley and therefore it seems unlikely that this features is the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow. The area is marked as Sea Common on the 1797 Faden map (S2). The most likely archaeological explanation for the feature is a post medieval circular stack stand, although this is quite large for such a feature, which is just outside the 6 to 18m size range displayed by similar sites mapped in the Wash (S3).
S. Massey (NMP), 13 September 2005.