NHER 52447 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks of medieval settlement

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of a possible former medieval settlement within the grounds of the medieval deer park (NHER 52456) associated with Kirby Old Hall (NHER 9682), are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 2754 0483 and consists of an area of possible banked and ditched enclosures, some of which may have been stock enclosures, possible house or building platforms and field boundaries. The earthworks have since been plough-levelled. Fieldwalking over this site in advance of the Yelverton to East Carleton gas pipeline recovered fragments of Roman and medieval pottery, brick, roof tile and glass (NHER 28995-6, 30309-10). Although medieval material was recovered, of greatest significance being eleven fragments of medieval building material of brick and tile (NHER 28996) (S5), it could perhaps be said that a greater quantity of this material would be expected from a former medieval settlement. The only ditch encountered in the actual pipeline trench coincided with a relatively recently removed field boundary (NHER 28996) (S5).
The location of these features within a medieval deer park would indicate that an area of medieval settlement was cleared and emparked within the creation of the deer park, see NHER 52456 for details. Certainly all of these boundaries seemingly underlie the post medieval layout as depicted on the undated Kirby Bedon Tithe map (S6) and the 1840 Framingham Pigot Tithe map (S7). The earthworks within the western part of the site are also overlain by the curving line of the road (NHER 52444) that lead from location of Sir John Bernoy's White Gate, the entrance to the Kirby Hall (NHER 9907).
The main concentration of earthwork enclosures, boundaries and platforms is centred on TG 2764 0482. The banks running alongside the enclosure and boundary ditches were only clearly apparent as soilmarks in 1970 (S4) after the earthworks had been ploughed some time after 1956. Although faint traces of the banks as earthworks may be visible in 1956 (S3). One of the main components of the site is a large square banked and ditched enclosure, 85m across, centred on TG 2765 0492. To the immediate south of this are two conjoined enclosures, which abut up to one of the main boundary ditches. The western enclosure measures approximately 50m by 25m. In 1956 (S3) it is possible would appear that the interior of this ditched enclosure has a raised surface, possibly a building platform. Although however it is hard to discern for certain due to the angle of the shadows in relation to the alignment of the earthwork. In 1970 the soilmarks for this part of the site show a dark coloured soilmark, giving in the appearance of a sunken floor or former pit or pond (S4). However the earlier earthworks certainly do not show this and it is possible that the dark material relates to the plough spreading of either building material and/or hearth material or could feasibly relate organic deposits relating to an enclosure for stock or associated with occupation. The soilmarks in 1970 also revealed traces of internal banks within the adjacent ditched enclosure.
It is perhaps possible to also identify additional building platforms from the soilmarks within the ditched enclosures to the south, centred on TG 2758 0474 and TG 2757 0480. A light-coloured, sub-rectangular soilmark at TG 2774 0488 may also relate to former building platform (S4).
Two major boundary ditches run through the centre to the area of enclosures. These run parallel to the parish boundary to the south. The soilmark remnants of a bank and or road may be visible running alongside the actual parish boundary itself in 1970 (S4). This may be visible as an extremely low earthwork in 1956 (S3), although it is hard to be certain. This straight section of parish boundary runs to the east of a line of probable Roman road (NHER 9904), the proposed course of which ends at TG 2723 0462, which is the western extent of this site. It is feasible that the parish boundary marks a continuation of this Roman road along a different route. Towards the eastern end of the site the southernmost of these two boundaries takes a stepped route downwards to the south, and continues to the south of this parish boundary, although again running parallel to it. A bank runs alongside the boundary ditch at this southern end. See NHER 52448 for discussion of possible earthworks of Roman date underlying the western part of this site.
S. Horlock (NMP), 4 November 2009.

February 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Poringland to Whitlingham Rising Main pipeline.
Although a number of the easternmost earthworks coincided with the southern end of the area examined there was no evidence for associated sub-surface remains.
See NHER 69522 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 January 2026.

January-February 2017. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
Excavation along route of Poringland to Whitlingham Rising Main pipeline.
The southern end of the excavated strip coincided with the easternmost cropmarks in this group but there was again no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains. It is though notable that a number of early medieval ditches in the southern part of the site (including two groups that potentially bounded a trackway) have the same east-to-west orientation as many of these earthworks.
See NHER 69522 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 January 2026.