NHER 50937 (Monument record) - Earthworks of post medieval park features and possible earlier medieval feature

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of post medieval park features and possible earlier medieval features are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S3) to the south of the Watlington Park (NHER 31972).

The main component of the site is a chain of conjoined ditched rectilinear enclosures and pond-like sunken features, up to 12m across, which run alongside the main drainage ditch that runs N-S through the park (S2). The northern ditched enclosure of this group would appear to be cut by a linear ditch that forms part of a linear arrangement of earthworks running through the centre of the park from the hall. These features clearly correspond to a path marked on the 1839 Watlington Tithe map (S4) and would therefore indicate that the earthworks relate to an earlier layout and design of the park, possibly dating to the eighteenth century.

It is also possible that the earthwork enclosures and possible ponds represent medieval elements that pre-date the establishment of the park. Similar earthworks, also thought to be of medieval date have been recorded to the immediate south (NHER 50933). It is likely that these features relate to the medieval settlement in Watlington.

A second area of low earthworks are visible to the immediate south of the hall (S1-S2). These are not as well defined as those to the east and it is possible that some may be the result of relatively recent grounds maintenance in 1977 (S2), in particular those bank and ditch-like features immediately adjacent to the hall. The easternmost ditched enclosure, however, is clearly visible as an earthwork in 1971 (S1). These earthworks follow a different alignment to many of the park layout and may again relate to pre-park features. No definite sign of these western earthworks can be identified on the latest available vertical aerial photographs (1988, S3), however traces of the central band of enclosures, drainage ditches and ponds can still be seen as low, but extant earthworks.
S. Massey (NMP), 05 March 2008.