NHER 5524 (Monument record) - Medieval saltern mounds

Two saltpans. (Allocated HMOW187 but not scheduled)
Context 1 at TF 6270 2148, context 2 at TF 6280 2140.
Slight circular depressions with raised banks north of old river bed (now dry) recorded as Le Eau in 1437. Tidal east of and above saltpans. Diverted by artificial cut made 1425 to supply King's Lynn with fresh water.
'Domesday' written at end of entry by R. R. Clarke (NCM).

1955. Seabank Estate north of Bawsey Drain.
Two large low mounds of yellow clay levelled by bulldozer for housing site. Probably early medieval saltworkings.
Mound No. 1 at 0.6m (2 feet) deep showed circular ring of dark soil and small stones (?ditch bottom, containing fragment of lead), 8.5m (28 feet) in diameter, 0.38m (1 foot 3 inches) wide, 76mm (3 inches) deep. 2.4m to 2.75m (8 to 9 feet) southeast of ring was the remains of a structure of soft red brick and clay fused by great heat.
Mound No.2: 0.6m to 0.9m (2 to 3 feet) depth; remains of brick structure; fused material, mussel shells, fish bone, fragments of early medieval pottery; glazed pieces 13th/14th century.
Finds in Norwich Castle Museum.
Information from C. H. Lewton-Brain.
Elsewhere in the area constructors dug a deep trench, top approximately 3.7m plus (12 feet plus) OD. Here was 0.6m (2 feet) of loamy soil, over 150mm (6 inches) of clay silt, over 76mm (3 inches) blue clay over pockets of peat on modern sea level. This peat was a brushwood peat containing fragments of birch twigs and three seeds of plant of family CHENOPODIACEAE.
Identified by E.B.Green (NCM).
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

There are two saltern mounds situated 100m to the north of this site, that are likely candidates for the saltern mounds described as being levelled under this record. These are recorded under NHER 27902.
M. Brennand (NMP), 26 June 2003.