NHER 44954 (Monument record) - A moated enclosure and canalised channel

This moated enclosure was previously recorded under NHER 10751.

August 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A moated enclosure and canalised channel are visible on aerial photographs as earthworks to the immediate south and west of the Benedictine Priory (NHER 10725) at Aldeby (S1-S5). Other former enclosures and associated boundaries are also visible as cropmarks to the south. The site is centred on TM 4516 9319. Additional earthworks, also probably associated with the Priory, are located to the west (NHER 15127).

A canalised channel, up to 11m wide and probably originally a natural watercourse, runs from TM 4507 9318 to TM 4519 9324 (S2). This is located to the immediate south of the remaining Priory buildings (NHER 10725) and is likely to also be part of the original Priory works. The moated enclosure (NHER 10751) is located to the immediate north of this channel, now separated by the farm track. It is probable that the moated enclosure was originally conjoined to the southern channel. The enclosure is centred on TM 4514 9328 and measures approximately 35m by 30m internally and the ditch/channel varies in width from 1-7m (S1, S4). This is difference in width is likely to reflect varying states of silting and infill.

To the south of the canalised channel is a series of low earthworks only visible on the low-light oblique aerial photography (S2). These consist of linear banks and ditches that are likely to represent a mixture of agricultural divisions and drainage features. Within the arable to the south of these earthworks a group of cropmark and soilmark ditched enclosure and boundaries were identified (S3-S4). The possible enclosure is centred on TM 4521 9316 and measures 55m by 30m (S3). A similarly enclosed area may have existed to the north of the dividing boundary, although the cropmarks are less complete to the north.
S. Massey (NMP), 16 August 2006.