NHER 6028 (Monument record) - Possible Late Saxon manor or medieval moat

Fortified medieval earthwork site.

1946. RAF aerial photograph.
Oval moated site with rectangular annexe on south.

11 May 1958. Visit.
Enclosure identified on ground.
R.R. Clarke (NCM).
See (S2) for further information.

(S1) records as part of a drainage complex, the annexe being a reservoir.

27 July 1978. Visit.
Now afforested. Suggest the Ordnance Survey mistook the central pond for the annexe. Ditches of the latter are very shallow, now, but ditch on south and east of oval deep, still marshy, with area inside embanked high. Central pond is a puzzle and the whole thing does not look like a moat to me.
E. Rose (NAU), 27 July 1978.

September 1980. Detailed survey.
Suggests a fortified spur.
Produced medieval to post medieval sherds.
Identified by A. Rogerson (NAU).
E. Rose (NAU), 12 January 1981.

1981 to 1983. Fieldwork.
Produced Roman, Late Saxon, medieval sherds.
Identified by A. Rogerson (NAU).
E. Rose (NAU), 13 March 1990.

August 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The site described above is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs (S1) along with a number of other ditch features which appear to relate to drainage. The site is centred on TL 9695 8544, and, despite the clarity of the earthworks, it is difficult to be certain of the site’s function and/or date. It is possible that it relates to a Late Saxon or Medieval manorial site and the dimensions of the oval ditch, approximately 105m by 58m, would be concurrent with this type of site, however the relative freshness of the earthworks would imply a later date, and it may be that the site did in fact perform a drainage function, feeding the central pond or reservoir.
E. Bales (NMP), 28 August 2012.