NHER 53601 (Monument record) - Former earthworks of medieval to post medieval shrunken settlement, Pockthorpe

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Summary

The earthworks of a medieval to post medieval ‘deserted’ or shrunken settlement are visible on aerial photographs. The area is marked on modern Ordnance Survey maps as Pockthorpe. Comparison with Faden’s map of 1797 suggests that it may have been a common-edge settlement, ranged along the road leading from Great Melton Common a short distance to its south. The earthworks appear to represent various enclosures, boundaries and platforms, together with a number of probable ponds and/or quarries. A considerable number of medieval and post medieval objects have been found at the site (NHER 15287-8). Hall Farm (NHER 49714), which lies between the two areas of earthworks, would seem to be a modern remnant of this once larger settlement.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG10NW
Civil Parish GREAT MELTON, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

Undated, but pre 1976 (see above). Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photography Air Photography.
Earthworks 'of DMV' (deserted medieval village) noted by Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photography (wrongly located at TG 128 062) on (S1). Accurately located using photocopy of aerial photograph, but not clear enough to see details of earthworks. See also NHER 15288. Nothing visible on post 1976 NAU aerial photographs of same field.
E. Rose (NAU), 25 October 1982.

May 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks described below were previously recorded as part of NHER 15287 and 15288. The latter records should be referred to for the considerable quantities of medieval and post medieval material which have been recovered from the site.
The earthworks of a medieval to post medieval ‘deserted’ or shrunken settlement are visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S6). Two blocks of earthworks are visible, centred at TG 1284 0651 and TG 1271 0612. The area is marked on modern Ordnance Survey maps as Pockthorpe. Comparison with Faden’s map of 1797 (S7) suggests that it may have been a common-edge settlement, ranged along the road leading from Great Melton Common a short distance to its south. The earthworks appear to represent various enclosures, boundaries and platforms, together with a number of probable ponds and/or quarries. Some of the features could correspond with buildings shown in this approximate area on Bryant’s map of 1826 (S8), although these could equally relate to those depicted on later historic Ordnance Survey maps such as (S9), which are still extant. Some of the features still appear reasonably ‘fresh’ in 1946, so may have remained in use until relatively recent times.
The earthworks are now levelled, although traces may be visible as cropmarks on later aerial photographs such as (S10).
S. Tremlett (NMP), 21 May 2010.

  • <S1> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 3G/TUD/UK/70 5236-7 28-FEB-1946 (NMR).
  • <S10> Oblique Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1987. NHER TG 1206P-Q (NLA 188/DEQ1-2) 29-APR-1987.
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1429 3133-4 16-APR-1946 (NMR).
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1606 6085-6 27-JUN-1946 (NMR).
  • <S4> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1634 4122-3 09-JUL-1946 (NMR).
  • <S5> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1964. RAF 58/6209 (F21) 0015-6 11-MAR-1964 (NMR).
  • <S6> Oblique Aerial Photograph: CUCAP. 1966. CUCAP AQK78-9 30-DEC-1966.
  • <S7> Publication: Faden, W. and Barringer, J. C. 1989. Faden's Map of Norfolk in 1797.
  • <S8> Map: Bryant, A.. 1826. Bryant's Map of Norfolk.
  • <S9> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1884-1891. Ordnance Survey Map. Six inches to the mile. First Edition. 1:10,560.

Object Types (0)

Record last edited

Feb 21 2018 8:49AM

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