NHER 50300 (Monument record) - 19th century to modern drainage system

April-August 2007. Watching Brief.
A new dyke measuring 10m wide by 1.5m-2.0m deep was excavated alongside an existing dyke on the Cantley Marshes, on the north bank of the River Yare, as part of the Broadland Flood Alleviation Project. The only feature of archaeological interest identified along the length of the dyke was a drainage system located on either side of a modern drainage pump and the site of a 19th century steam engine house (NHER 10365). Topsoil in this area was stripped in order to reveal the plan of the drain. A pipe ran along the toe of the river bank and a series of ten drains (five on either side of the pump house) ran between the pipe and the existing dyke. One of these drains was selected for excavation, revealing a narrow, gravel-filled channel. A red brick, stepped facing consisting of eight courses of un-mortared brick had been constructed at the junction of the drain and the existing dyke. Some of the bricks retained small amounts of mortar, indicating that they had been re-used. No dates were suggested for these features but they were likely constructed no earlier that then 19th century and are almost certainly related either to the 19th century engine house (NHER 10365) or modern drainage pump.
No other archaeological features were observed and no finds were recovered during the remainder of the groundworks.
See report (S1) for further details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 18 March 2015.