NHER 50983 (Monument record) - Site of probable post medieval extraction pits or possible buildings east of site of Beeston Old Hall (Red Hall Farm)

October 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The remains of probable post medieval extraction pits or a possible building are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S3). The site is centred on TG 2533 1378. Two pit features, surrounded by a series of irregular banks, upcast spoil or masonry/foundations are visible. These features probably represent post medieval extraction pits or agricultural buildings, and the features appear to respect a field boundary depicted on Beeston St Andrew Tithe Map of 1842 (S4). The site does not appear to be represented on Faden (S5) or Bryant’s (S6) maps of Norfolk, rather it lies between the site of Beeston Old Hall (NHER 12258) (S5), (now Red Hall Farm) (S6), and Beeston St Andrew Hall (NHER 8174, the site of New Hall). It is with a note of caution that this site was interpreted as the remains of a possible building, although its similarity to NHER 50984 625m to the south was a factor in this interpretation.

Overall, the site measures approximately 99m by 41m, and is broadly rectangular in plan. The two pit areas, or internal building footprints, measure 35m by 20m and 14m by 11m.

To the north of the site three parallel linear features are also visible as cropmarks on some of the aerial photographs (S1) and (S3). The central one, running from TG2529 1376 to TG2534 1409, corresponds exactly with a field boundary depicted on Beeston St Andrew Tithe Map of 1842 (S4); the two parallel features visible on either side probably also relate to contemporary land division. Their late date and partial depiction on the Tithe Map meant that none warranted mapping by the NMP.
E. Bales (NMP), 29 October 2008.