NHER 6029 (Monument record) - Site of Harling Old Hall and Herling's Manor

Site of Harling

Built in 1490 possible on site of earlier hall. 17th and 18th centuries, demolished 19th century. Moated. Cropmarks of ?tofts. Kiln for land drains and tiles, 19th century.

17 August 1955.
Small brick channel coverd with limestone window mullions exposed in trench running northeast to southwest. Could be a water supply to the hall?
R.R. Clarke (NCM).

1978 to 1979. From moat meadow.
Seven medieval sherds. See list in file.
Undecorated bronze sheep bell.
Two lead dishes.
Lead ampulla with crowned W. See (S1) and (S2).
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM).

1979. Excavations.
Revealed a large infilled area containing 18th century glass, ironwork, stoneware, lead weights. Finds included a 10th century strap end (S11). See list in file.

September 1979. Excavations.
Machine cut trenches. Roman pottery in spoil;. On surface medieval metal finds (S12). See list in file. These include a bronze headed animal spout.
Identified by B. Spencer (Museum of London) and S. Margeson (NCM).

19 November 1979. Excavations.
Of south end of upstanding foundations. Found a flint and brick wall running east to west. 50cm wide exposed for 1m. On the other side of the adjacent hedge was found a north to south wall of similar construction. The footings were covered by layers of compacted sand, brick and rubble. These resemble demolition layers.

20 October 1984. Visit.
Report of brick footings. Scatters of brick and mortar can be seen in the field. Animal bone, roof tiles and sherds were collected. The foundations look like the remains of a wall of a walled garden probably of 17th to 18th century date though possibly late 16th.
E. Rose (NAU), 21 October 1984.

1986. Fieldwalking.
One Iron Age sherd.
Fourteen Roman.
Five Thetford type.
Eighteen medieval unglazed.
Six late medieval/transitional.
One tin glaze earthenware.
Identified by A. Rogerson (NAU).

1996. Earthwork survey.
Identified a new medieval occupation site, perhaps the original hall, to the northwest. Iron Age, Roman, Saxon and medieval pottery found.
See report (S3) for plan and further details. This site was included in (S13) and the survey is also noted in (S14)
B. Cushion (NLA), October 1996.

December 1996. Geophysical survey.
Substantial area of enclosure related to East Harling Hall identified. Further survey recommended.
See report (S4) for further details. The results of this survey are also summarised in (S15).
M. Dennis (NLA), 8 February 2006.

April 1997. Geophysical survey.
Main feature identified within previous survey is a moated enclosure. No firm indications of building foundations.
Within platform of moated enclosure Roman and medival sherds. Identified by A. Rogerson (NLA).
See (S5) for further details. The results of this survey are also summarised in (S16).
M. Dennis (NLA), 8 February 2006.

February 1999. Trenches dug by workmen.
Revealed garden walls. Walls and other features related to later phases of activity peripheral to the house.
B. Cushion, 17 February 1999.

August 1999. Trenches dug by workmen.
An area of rammed chalk exposed. Small building or yard likeliest explanation. Non alignment with flint and brick buildings to west this structure probably dates later than them. Substantial structures did not exist further east than the upstanding surveyed fragments.
B. Cushion, 4 August 1999.

Management Statement signed (two owners) 1 August 1996/27 September 1999. See copy in file.
H. Paterson (NLA), 4 October 1999.

March 2008. Watching brief.
No archaeological finds or features were encountered.
See report (S6) for further details.
E. Bales (NLA), 28 May 2008.

September 2012. Norfolk NMP.
Some of the earthworks recorded during the geophysics surveys (S4)-(S5) and the earthwork survey (S3) mentioned above are visible on aerial photographs (S7)-(S10) of the land surrounding Waterways Farm, East Harling.
Most notable is the discreet moat, centred on TL 9937 8686, which measures approximately 59m by 46m internally, and appears to contain possible ridge and furrow, although this may be a later feature.
A second area of earthworks is visible at TL 9902 8684, but this was not as substantial as that recorded during the earthwork survey (S6).
E. Bales (NMP), 05 September 2012.