NHER 50920 (Monument record) - Earthworks and soilmarks of a group of possible medieval saltern mounds

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks and soilmarks of a group of seven probable medieval salterns are visible on aerial photographs to the west of Tottenhill Row (S1-S3). This site is centred on TF 6271 1210. These features, which represent the mounds of waste material produced through the medieval salt production process, known as ‘sand washing’, were a common feature of the NMP mapping for Great Ouse estuary and reclaimed land in and around Kings Lynn. These are located on the edge of the former estuary and fen, now reclaimed land. The geology map indicates that a channel ran down from this main estuary past Tottenhill Row towards Watlington.

The mounds range in size from 40m to over 250m long and are all amorphous shapes, as is characteristic of such features. There is some doubt over the antiquity of the westernmost mound as this is located next to relatively modern pond and this may be the upcast from its excavation. These mounds are still visible as earthworks in 1988 (S4), although some of them have been levelled to a degree.
S. Massey (NMP), 5 March 2008.