NHER 50908 (Monument record) - Earthworks of probable medieval to post medieval date extraction and flood defences

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of a series of embankments, pits and extraction areas of probable medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs of Billingford Common (S1-S2). The exact nature of these earthworks is not clear, although it seems likely that they relate to former extraction on the Common edge.

The site consists of a series of circular pits, probably extraction pits, surrounded by raised areas of ground. It is not immediately clear from the aerial photographs whether this raised ground consists of artificial spoil dumps associated with the extraction of whether it is naturally undulating ground. This part of the site is located over the edge of sands and gravels and it is possible that these of gravel hillocks. To the immediate south this extraction area is an embankment, which acts to enclose an area of the valley floor. It is not clear whether this is associated with the extraction or whether it was constructed as an unrelated flood defence.
S. Massey (NMP), 03 March 2008.