NHER 57386 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthwork of undated ditch and cropmark of possible late Saxon to Medieval enclosure or manorial site

July 2012. Norfolk NMP.
An earthwork track or former field boundary which is not depicted on historic maps, as well as cropmarks of ditches which form a possible enclosure are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2) on land to the east of St Mary’s Church, Quidenham.
The earthwork field boundary or track to the east of the church is clearly visible on the earliest photographs (S1), in line with those depicted on historic maps, and therefore is likely to be of medieval to post medieval date.
The cropmarks of a fragmentary possible enclosure are also visible, centred on TM 0200 8940, and measuring 48m by 22m internally, with broad, blurred ditches approximately 5m in width, making the external measurements approximately 58m by 33m.
The cropmarks are only faintly visible on one set of photographs (S2), and are within an area containing much background geology, which makes it difficult to be certain whether they are archaeological in origin. They have been mapped largely due to their location, in close proximity to St Mary’s Church (NHER 10823), and it is possible that they represent an enclosure similar in date to that mapped at Gressenhall (NHER 25989) which was dated to the late Saxon to Medieval period. In the same way as Gressenhall, the site is in close proximity to farm known as ‘manor farm’ (NHER 16218) and finds from the vicinity include a Middle Saxon hooked tag (NHER 52608), a Late Saxon penny (NHER 30366) Middle Saxon brooches and a Late Saxon disc brooch (NHER 29447), further Late Saxon brooches (NHER 29448) as well as a medieval bar mount (NHER 49030) and further medieval metalwork.
In the field to the south, finds of Ipswich ware and Thetford ware pottery have been recovered, along with further Saxon to Medieval metalwork finds (NHER 24050, 24051, 31329, 30370 and 30382), and at least two possible linear cropmark ditches (NHER 57388), which may or may not be related to this manorial site. It is also worth noting that earthworks of the medieval 'bishop’s palace' have been recorded 500m to the south east (NHER 10794).
E. Bales (NMP), 04 July 2012.

According to (S3) Ordnance Survey records suggest that the Bishop's Palace recorded under NHER 10794 actually lay within the vicinity of TM 025 893 - i.e. close to these earthworks. This seems to be based on a conversation with the owner of Church Farm in 1980, who spoke of ploughing up building debris at this location. It should be noted that the relative inaccuracy of the six-figure grid reference recorded means it isn't clear whether this debris was encountered to the north or the south of the track running between the Quidenham Road and St Mary's Church.
Previously recorded (seemingly in error) under NHER 10801, which documents human remains uncovered in the neighbouring plantation.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2024.