NHER 58259 (Monument record) - Medieval to post-medieval remains associated with area of former common-edge settlement

November-December 2011. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of northern half of site.
This survey identified a rectilinear enclosure in the southernmost of the two proposed development areas examined, at TG 3646 0815. This sub-square enclosure measured approximately 30m by 25m and was aligned roughly north-to-south. A discontinuous anomaly within the enclosure possibly represented an internal division and another discontinuous, broadly parallel linear anomaly to the east was also potentially a contemporary feature. Several clusters of discrete anomalies in this part of the site were also thought to probably represent archaeologically-significant remains. It is clear from the available 19th-century maps that the western side of the probable enclosure coincides with a slightly curving section of the former parish boundary between Lingwood and Burlingham St Edmund. Significantly, this also appears to have been the boundary of a large area of common land to the west that is depicted on Faden’s map of 1797 (S1). It is therefore possible that the enclosure and the surrounding anomalies represent remains associated with an area of medieval or later common-edge settlement.
Although a slightly curving linear anomaly in the northern survey area was regarded as being of geological origin this seems unlikely as this feature coincides with a continuation of the historical boundary described above. Here though there was no clear evidence for other associated archaeological remains.
Numerous discrete areas of magnetic enhancement in both survey areas were also thought to represent changes in the underlying geology due to their low magnitude and lack of any apparent pattern.
Several isolated dipolar anomalies and larger areas of magnetic disturbance around the boundaries of the fields were probably caused by ferrous material within the topsoil (most likely modern debris).
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with three north-east to south-west aligned cropmarks mapped in the southern field (part of a much larger group of potentially Late Iron Age or Roman cropmarks recorded as NHER 49611).
See report (S2) for further details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 27 December 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 February 2022.

February 2012. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of western half of narrow field centred at TG36510816 (where the preceding geophysical survey had identified a possible rectilinear enclosure).
The six trenches excavated revealed nine ditches and a single post hole. Four of the ditches corresponded with the probable enclosure identified by the geophysical survey, including features likely to represent its southern and eastern sides and part of a probable internal division. Another ditch was clearly associated with the north-to-south aligned geophysical linear anomaly that had been identified to the east of the enclosure. This was possibly part of a related enclosure or field, the southern side of which was potentially represented by a roughly perpendicular ditch to the south-west and an adjacent, similarly-aligned geophysical anomaly. Unfortunately little in the way of dating evidence was recovered from these various ditches, with finds limited to single sherds of medieval and medieval/post-medieval pottery and two formless fragments of fired clay. A sample taken from one of the ditch fills was found to contain a small assemblage of charred plant macrofossils likely to represent a very low density deposit of hearth or oven waste. Although limited, this evidence is still nevertheless consistent with the suggestion that these remains were associated with an area of former common-edge settlement.
The two other ditches recorded were undated north-east to south-west and north-north-west to south-south-east aligned features, both of which lay to the west of the enclosure.
See report (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
The associated archive has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.145).
H. Hamilton (HES), 16 November 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 May 2019 and 21 February 2022.

July 2012. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of two adjacent areas to south of field evaluated in February 2012 (Fields 2 and 3).
The western field was crossed by a band of north-north-west to south-south-east and east-north-east to west-south-west aligned linear anomalies. As with the enclosure to the north the western edge of this group clearly coincides with the former parish and common boundary depicted on historical maps. A number of the linear anomalies in this area also appear to represent elements of small enclosures, providing further evidence that the remains at this location represent an area of former common-edge settlement. Several clutters of discrete anomalies in the vicinity of the probable enclosure ditches are also thought to represent archaeologically significant remains.
Two extensive roughly east-to-west aligned linear anomalies extended to the east of the probable settlement remains. These are likely to represent more recent land divisions as both correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Burlingham St Edmund Tithe map (S5).
Numerous discrete areas of magnetic enhancement present across both survey areas were regarded as geological in origin.
Several isolated dipolar anomalies and larger areas of magnetic disturbance around the boundaries of the fields were probably caused by ferrous material within the topsoil (most likely modern debris).
See (S6) for further information.
H. Hamilton (HES), 27 December 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 22 February 2022.

April-June 2013. Excavation.
Excavation of site of new primary school, which coincided with the probable enclosure investigated in 2012.
This work revealed numerous archaeologically-significant features including enclosure ditches, associated structural remains and a number of pits.
The form of the main enclosure was largely as had been suggested by the initial geophysical survey, although the complexity of the associated ditches and various other linear features exposed to the north suggest that several phases of activity were likely represented. An interrupted north-to-south aligned ditch within the enclosure was potentially an internal sub-division, although it is possible that this was originally its eastern side, with the ditch to the east representing a later addition. The bulk of the pits identified lay within this enclosure. The western side of the enclosure was formed by a boundary that appeared to extend beyond it in both directions. To the north it joined an east-to-west boundary that potentially represented one side of a much larger enclosure, which was possibly associated with the ditches that had been recorded to the east during the preceding work. This larger enclosure was probably associated with a different phase of activity as several perpendicular linear features that extended to the south continued beyond the northern side of the smaller, square enclosure. The area bounded by these ditches and the two enclosure ditches was found to contain the remains of a timber structure, which was represented by two east-to-west aligned lines of five post-holes and two perpendicular probable beam slots. The only find recovered from these features was a sherd of Late Saxon pottery, which was not considered sufficient to date the structure. This was the only sherd of this date recovered, with virtually all of the pottery being of medieval date. More than a fifth of the assemblage is early medieval and there is a notable absence of late medieval wares. The early medieval pottery came almost exclusive from pits within the main, square enclosure and one of the ditches that formed either its original eastern side or an internal division. It is therefore likely that this enclosure was associated with the first sustained phase of activity on the site.
Potentially post-medieval features included a flint foundation that overlay the infilled enclosure ditch. This was possibly associated with a building that can be seen at this location on Faden’s map of 1797 (S1) and may have been the base of chimney at one end of a dwelling. It is suggested that the timber structure may actually have been associated with this phase of activity, perhaps representing some form of outbuilding. Other later features include a number of curving north-to-south aligned ditches immediately to the west of the enclosure ditches that probably resulted from the periodic reinstatement of the common boundary. There ditches produced pieces of post-medieval brick and tile (including a fragment of 'late brick' of 18th/19th-century date) and a small quantity of animal bone. Post-medieval roof tile was also recovered from a much straighter, north-north-west to south-south-east aligned ditch to the west. This feature appeared to be contemporary with two parallel ditches recorded in the westernmost part of the site (the alignments of which were similar to some of the cropmarks mapped to the east of the excavated area - see NHER 49611).
Samples taken from the fills of various features all produced only small assemblages of charred plant macrofossils, which provided no clear evidence for specific activities that may have been taking place at the site.
The only evidence for activity on the site prior to the Late Saxon period was a small assemblage of later Mesolithic and earlier Neolithic worked flints, all of which were either unstratified or residual in later contexts. The small number of other unstratified finds included medieval pottery, a single post-medieval pottery sherd, several post-medieval metal objects and a fragment of probable smithing slag.
Information from assessment report (S7). Final reports awaited.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.187).
P. Watkins (HES), 22 February 2022.