NHER 5737 (Monument record) - Medieval malting oven and other, medieval to post-medieval and undated remains

Undated information.
In 'High Trees'.
"Medieval earthwork" written on NCM map by R R. Clarke (NCM) with rectangle drawn. See also (S1).
An Ordnance Survey record card (S2) suggests that 'EIA [Early Iron Age] Sherds' had been recovered at this location but no other details are given. Card also notes site covered by bungalows and only one side of earthwork remains.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU). Information from record card (S3).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 9 December 2022.

4 July 1979. Field Observation.
Site visited by E. Rose (NAU).
Bungalows indeed built over site, and grounds landscaped. Possible remains of one bank along north edge of area which is crest of rise, but spread beyond recognition.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU). Information from record card (S3).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 9 December 2022.

January 2012. Trial Trenching.
Partial evaluation of proposed development site.
This initial phase of work saw the excavation of two trenches at the eastern end of the site (Trenches 1 and 2). The northernmost of these trenches revealed the shallow remains of an east-to-west aligned wall footing comprised of small flint cobbles in a matrix of loose sand and chalk. Although a medieval date is possible, it is suggested that this wall was more likely to be late post-medieval - particularly as it appeared to be of similar composition to the walls of various outbuildings associated with the 19th-century vicarage to the south. It should though be noted that no structures of any kind are shown at this location on the available 19th-century maps. This plot of land used to be known as 'High Trees' and multiple trees are drawn at this location on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25-inch map (S4). The southern trench revealed evidence for considerable disturbance that had probably been associated with these trees.
Finds were limited to single sherds of Late Saxon and medieval pottery, both of which were recovered from the topsoil overlying the wall footing.
See report (S5) for details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.583).
E. Bales (HES), 27 August 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 9 December 2022.

Site extended [1].

December 2012-April 2013. Trial Trenching and Excavation.
A second phase of evaluation saw the excavation of a further five trenches (Trenches 3-7), two of which were 'L'-shaped and positioned to establish the extent of the previously identified wall footing and whether it was associated with any other structure remains. The wall was shown to have extended in both directions but there was no evidence for associated remains, suggesting it was indeed most likely a free standing wall. This and two similarly-aligned wall footings exposed in a trench to the south-west are recorded as probable post-medieval garden structures. A single undated ditch was also recorded.
By far the most significant discovery was a clay-built structure, the corner of which was exposed in one of the trenches excavated in the central part of the site. A subsequent targeted excavation revealed this to be a square medieval malting oven with stokeholes in at least three of its corners.
Information from archive deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.583). Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 December 2022.

2013. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of several new dwellings and an associated access road.
It appears that various remains were recorded during the creation of the access road, including a second oven-type structure and a flint wall plinth and ?associated clay spreads. Subsequent monitoring took place within the first of the building plots, which partially coincided with the site of the previously investigated medieval malting oven. Additional features recorded included the possible truncated remains of another oven, a clay post-pad and a medieval rubbish pit.
Report awaited.
Above information from annotated sketch plan showing results of monitoring undertaken up to 31 May 2013 (S6). No details are currently available on any work that took place after this date [2].
P. Watkins (HES), 9 December 2022.