NHER 45077 (Monument record) - Possible sites of peat or clay extraction

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Summary

Two possible areas of former peat or clay extraction, both presumably of post-Roman date, are visible as vegetation marks and perhaps slight earthworks on aerial photographs. The relatively limited areas of wetter ground encompass some more-or-less straight edges, which suggests that they are man-made features. They are comparable to more extensive areas of former extraction identified further to the north, such as NHER 27280. If they represent former peat cuttings, it is likely that they date to the medieval period. There is little peat, however, in this part of the Thurne Valley, and the sites are more likely to represent clay extraction. There were numerous clay pits in Martham parish in the post medieval period.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TG41NW
Civil Parish	MARTHAM, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

September 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Two possible areas of former peat or clay extraction are visible as vegetation marks and perhaps slight earthworks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred at TG 4369 1871. They could represent former peat cuttings, in which case they are presumably of medieval date. There is little peat, however, in this part of the Thurne Valley (see Williamson 1997 (S3), for example), whereas Martham possessed numerous clay pits in the post medieval period, as described in (S4). Small enclosures or possibly small areas of extraction are depicted at this approximate location on Faden’s Map of Norfolk (S5). Alternatively, the mapped features could instead be of natural or recent agricultural origin.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 26 September 2006.

Associated Sources (5)

<S1> SNF65477 Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1634 5051-2 09-JUL-1946 (NHER TG 4417A, TG 4318A).
<S2> SNF65478 Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1955. RAF 82/1214 (F22) 0364-5 06-JUN-1955 (NMR).
<S3> SNF52439 Monograph: Williamson, T.. 1997. The Norfolk Broads: A Landscape History.. p 13; Fig 3.
<S4> SNF57617 Archive: NIAS. Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society Records.
<S5> SNF6047 Publication: Faden, W. and Barringer, J. C. 1989. Faden's Map of Norfolk in 1797.