NHER 50974 (Monument record) - Earthworks of enclosures and ditches of probable medieval date

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of a small group of enclosures and boundaries of possible medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S2) within parkland (NHER 30496) to the immediate west of Bylaugh Hall (NHER 3006). The site is centred on TG 0306 1875. It is possible that these relate to the medieval settlement thought to be located to the immediate east of this area (NHER 11524) that pre-dates the establishment of the Park. The location of the earthworks was covered by woodland during the 1940s, which may have helped to preserve these possible medieval features from being levelled as part of the landscaping of the park. Although it must be borne in mind that the area immediately surrounding the hall was used by the military during World War Two as a camp (NHER 44346) and that some of these features may be twentieth century in date. The site is centred on TG 0342 1865.

The site consists of a group of low earthworks and vegetation marks located on an undulating area of grassland. The clearest component of the site is a possible rectangular ditched enclosure, measuring approximately 20m by 30m. A second, smaller enclosure may be located to the immediate west and another to the south, although these are more fragmentary and incomplete than the main enclosure. The remainder of the site consists of fragmentary ditches. Given that this general location has been suggested as the site of the former medieval settlement of Bylaugh it seems probable that these earthworks relate to tofts and/or stock enclosures relating to this site. However it is feasible that these earthworks relate to earlier settlement. Finds of an Iron Age, Roman and Saxon date have been found in the general vicinity of the site (NHER 25690) and the enclosure does appear to follow the same alignment as a group of fragmentary field boundaries recorded as cropmarks within the northern and eastern parts of the park (NHER 50872). Although undated these cropmarks were interpreted as being of possible Iron Age to Roman date.
Also see (S2)
S. Massey (NMP), 03 March 2008.