NHER 52134 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks of medieval to post medieval enclosures and boundaries surrounding Mangreen Hall

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of medieval to post medieval enclosures and boundaries surrounding Mangreen Hall (NHER 9767) are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S6). The site is centred on TG 2152 0320. Mangreen Hall is thought to originally have been a medieval moated site and finds of pottery dating to the 12th, 13th and 15th centuries have been recovered at the site (NHER 24794). It is possible that some of these earthworks are associated with the former medieval hamlet of Mangreen or outbuildings and paddocks associated with the medieval moated manorial site.
A series of earthworks are visible on land immediately surrounding the Hall, most clearly visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and 1956 (S2-S3). To the northwest and west of the house is a series of bank and ditch earthwork enclosures, one of which appears to pre-date a linear bank and ditch boundary, which is likely to be the remains of a post medieval track or road leading from a former entrance to the park depicted on the 1847 Swardeston Tithe map (S7). The enclosures to the west of the site are located within the area of medieval pottery (NHER 24794). It is possible that these earthworks are associated with the former medieval hamlet of Mangreen or outbuildings and paddocks associated with the medieval moated manorial site. The majority of the earthworks to the south of the Hall appear to relate to field boundaries and tracks either depicted on the 1847 Swardeston Tithe map (S7) or seemingly of a similar phase. To the south of Mangreen Hall Farm are the slight earthworks of a hollow way or ditch running diagonally across the field in 1947 and 1956 (S2-S3), however it is possible that these relate to more recent activity as the route does run from the farm towards a gap in the field boundary. To the east is another area of vegetation marks and slight earthworks visible in 1947, possibly representing a series of ditches and banks, although as with the area to the west, a relatively recent and agricultural cause for the features could not be ruled out. This is in the area of NHER 9749, a record relating to possible cropmarks, although nothing definite could be identified on the photograph listed.
To the north of the hall a series of banks and ditches are visible as earthwork in 1946 (S1) and likely to represent former medieval to post medieval land and woodland boundaries. This western part of this has been partially plough levelled by January 1956 (S3), although some earthworks remain. An additional bank and ditch, linking this part of the site to the earthworks to the south, is also visible as a soilmark in 1970 (S5). None of these features is marked on the 1847 Swardeston Tithe map (S7).
S. Horlock (NMP), 24 March 2009.

December 2014. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed quarry extension areas to south-west and south-east of Mangreen Hall Farm.
The easternmost of the two areas examined coincided with the possible north-to-south and east-to-west aligned features recorded at TG 2160 0285. There was no evidence for associated remains. There was also no evidence for surviving remains associated with the north-to-south aligned feature recorded in the field to the west, at TG 2136 0285.
See NHERs 9749 and 66385 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 January 2023.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of sites on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
The examination of a strip to the south of Mangreen Lane recorded no evidence for surviving features associated with the east-to-west and north-to-south aligned cropmarks/earthworks mapped at this location (TG 2127 0291). Both do though appear to correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Swardeston tithe map (S7).
The survey of a diagonal strip across the southern half of the field south-west of Mangreen Hall Farm identified a north-to-south aligned linear anomaly at the western edge of the field that potentially relates to the similarly-aligned cropmark/earthwork at this location (TG 2136 0285).
See NHERs 66384 and 66385 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2023.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of sites on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
This work identified a ditch associated with the north-to-south aligned cropmark/earthwork at TG 2127 0291. No finds were recovered, although, as noted above, the cartographic evidence suggests that this feature was most likely post-medieval.
See NHERs 66384 and 66385 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2023.