NHER 6304 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Medieval moated site south of Rosedale Farm

Moat (Ordnance Survey).
Called Hall Yards on map of 1704; more complex on this.
In 1840 to 50; W. J. J. Bolding found 'Roman pottery and tiles' in this area. Information via NCM.

Autumn 1979.
Protruding from west bank of moat.
Two copper alloy coins of Claudius Gothicus, and base of Roman coarse vessel.
A. K. Lawson (NCM), November 1979.

The map mentioned is in Bolding's notebook, a copy of which is now at NLA and the original with informant [1].
It shows an outer enclosure to northeast, a parallel pond to the west and another pond to northwest which may not be connected.
Present road to east and south is shown as 'modern' and 'the old road to Holt' runs past west side of moat.
'Roman pottery' findspot is shown but tiles not mentioned; 'unexcavated Roman remains' shown in three places; and arm between main moat and northeast enclosure suggested as later, overlying Roman levels to a depth of 1.2m (4 feet) because Bolding dug a 1.2m hole and found nothing.
Corrected entry by E. Rose (NAU), 9 October 1984.

Site scheduled 1996, both extant enclosure and buried northeast enclosure; suggested as site of manor.
Schedule in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 12 February 1996.

Larger moat supports old oaks and a dense cover of snowberry on the island. Sides overgrown with scrub. Moat partly wet, partly boggy. Owner to receive visit from County Conservation Officer with advice on management for wild-life benefit.
H. Paterson (NLA) 11 April 1996.

August 2002.
Owner has undertaken some tree-felling at sides of the moat. Agreement has been reached to enter into a Section 17 to continue further felling and some scrub clearance.
H. Paterson (NLA), 27 August 2002.

Section 17 Management Agreement signed 17 September 2002.
H. Paterson (A&E), 14 October 2002.

July 2003. Norfolk NMP.
Medieval moated enclosures and fishponds relating to Manor site. These are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S2) and Hunting Survey photographs from 1969 (S3). The centre of the site was moved from TG 1098 4340, as the site was extended to the north and the east. The main moated enclosure is trapezoidal in shape and centred on TG 1090 4248, although very little of the earthworks can be seen from the air due to dense vegetation. The moat itself measures approximately 78m north to south by 56m east to west. The clearest section of the moat is the northern arm, which is a massive 19m wide. The outer edge of the southwestern corner of the moat is also visible.
A subsidiary arm leading off from the northeastern corner of the moat is visible as a slight earthwork on the Hunting Survey photographs (S3). This turns up to the north and forms an F-shaped extension, up to 58m long and 26m across. The moat is much narrower at this point, up to 9.5m wide. The full extent of these earthworks is obscured by vegetation. It is possible that these channels may have joined with an L-shaped ditch running from TG 1093 4256 to TG 1093 4259 to TG 1098 4257. The two arms of this channel are 40m and 49m long respectively, and also up to 9.5m wide. This may be creating further moated enclosures, gardens or fishponds. Another feature which has the appearance of a fishpond is located to the west of the main moat at TG 1086 4248. This is only visible as an oblong cropmark 19m long and 7m wide.
All of these features are broadly consistent with those water-filled channels drawn by W.J. Bolding in his notebook from 1850 (copy held within SMR and see secondary file). These features were copied from a Manorial map of 1704. Also marked on this map is the ‘ancient’ road to Holt. This too is visible as a cropmark on the RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S2). A linear parchmark can be seen running from TG 1091 4256 to TG 1081 4248, measuring 136m long and 4.5m wide. This was flanked by a ditch to the south, which varies in width from 1m to 7m. This cropmark continues the possible line of the road to the south until TG 1080 4229. The earliest date of this road is provided by the 1704 map referred to by Bolding, although it is presumably much older than that, at least being medieval in date. Another possible sunken feature is visible to the immediate south of the road at TG 1091 4255, measuring 12m by 7m. This appears to be surrounded by a parched line, possibly a narrow bank or walled section. On the RAF aerial photographs (S2) a very broad, up to 15m, and slightly irregular positive cropmark runs from the southwestern corner of the moat down towards the spring site to the south. This was not mapped as part of its course was consistent with that of the stream on the 1704 map and therefore this may represent an old watercourse, running from the spring site towards the moat.
In the opposite field to the east on the 1946 aerial photographs there are several possible positive cropmarks, which have the appearance of sunken features. These are not visible on any later photographs so it must be borne in mind that these might be waterlogged areas caused by the stream. Although the regularity of some of them would suggest that they may be archaeological. In particular the roughly square feature at TG 1106 4258, measuring 24m by 25m. A banked area, suggested by a slight parchmark to the west and north also possibly surrounds this feature. The rest of the cropmarks within this area are much more irregular. Centred on TG 1110 4259 is an elongated feature, measuring 30m long by 10 to 15m wide. Also centred on TG 1102 4258 are two roughly parallel elongated features, these are 38 to 40m long and between 8 and 17m wide. An irregular channel links them to the east. Another channel projects out to the west towards the other moated areas. These features may be further elements of the moated site, perhaps moated gardens or more likely fishponds.
Several other linears are visible, in particular two parallel ditches running to the southwest from the stream, from TG 1107 4260 to TG 1102 4249 and from TG 1109 4257 to TG 1103 4248. It is possible that these are related to drainage. Also to the north are several further fragmentary earthworks and cropmarks. In particular in the remaining grassland to the west of the Holt Road. These include an embanked area at TG 1097 4261, measuring 25.5m by 22m. The bank is 3m wide. Other features in this area consist of linear banks and ditches.
S. Massey (NMP), 7 July 2003.

December 2003. Visited.
Further felling of trees/scrub, not evident to east. Snowberry still thick on interior. Owner confirmed that trees had been felled to west.
H. Paterson (A&E), 12 January 2004.

September-November 2008. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Sheringham Shoals Offshore Windfarm Grid Connection cable (Trenches 6-9).
One of the trenches excavated coincided with the north-to-south aligned cropmark mapped at the western edge of this site. No evidence for surviving sub-surface remains was identified.
See report (S4) and NHER 63388 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 June 2019.