NHER 43710 (Monument record) - Possible medieval peat extraction

March 2005. Norfolk NMP.
An area of possible medieval peat extraction has been identified on aerial photographs within the marshes to the south of Eastfield Farm (S1). The site is centred on TG 4382 2318. These former cuttings are visible in 1943 as four amorphous-shaped sunken areas (S1), within the surrounding marsh, with a darker and wetter fill, and are cut by post-medieval drainage ditches. The are larger areas showing these characteristics within the vicinity, such as on the edge of Hickling Broad (HER 8387), Eastfield Marsh (HER 35363) and Cotton’s Marsh (HER 32157), and comparison with historic maps has indicated that these areas correspond with former Broads. It is therefore possible that this darker area on the aerial photographs also represents the location of a former Broad, however it must be noted that this site is not as convincing as others recorded as such.

Some of the Broads in this area are the result of clay, rather than peat extraction, such as Heigham Sound and Horsey (S2; p87). However the soils map for the area of this site would indicate that these pits would have been predominantly cut for peat extraction, although it is possible that some clay was present as it is extremely close to the upper extent of the alluvial clay deposits associated with the Thurne valley.

The extent of these possible cuttings had to be sketched onto the NMP map as the features were located on the extreme edge of the aerial photographs and therefore accurate rectification was not possible.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 March 2005.