NHER 58610 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Former site of medieval settlement enclosures, possible deserted medieval village of Baconsthorpe

February 2013. Norfolk NMP.
The former earthworks of two probable medieval settlement enclosures are visible on aerial photographs alongside a tributary of the River Thet (S1-S5). The site is centred on TM 0417 9568. There is some evidence suggesting that this site may relate to the previously unknown location of the deserted medieval village of Baconsthorpe (NHER 9102), see below. The location of this site was either partially or completely covered by a temporary May Gurney Compound used during part of the Attleborough Bypass A11 Improvement project. A watching brief undertaken by NAU Archaeology at the site in 2005 (NHER 41940) produced negative results, although it is not clear what work was actually undertaken at the site and therefore to what extent any surviving archaeology would have been affected and/or revealed. Any further work at this site or expansion of the compound must be undertaken with these possible remains in mind.
The site appears to have consisted of two broad-ditched, almost 'moat'-like, enclosures (the largest measuring approximately 60m by 50m) alongside the watercourse, each with a central rectangular platform, possibly representing a former toft. The appearance of the earthworks would suggest a medieval settlement site. The 1838 Tithe Map shows the area immediately adjacent to the enclosures as being subdivided into similarly sized plots indicating further possible former enclosures. These enclosures are located near to the former extent of Baconthorp Common on Faden’s map of 1797 (S7) and may have represented a common-edge settlement site. Although it must be noted that a village of Baconsthorpe was mentioned in the Domesday Book, the site of which has not been identified (NHER 9102). The National Monuments Record (NMR) records the most likely site of the village to have been on the meadow on either side of the stream between TM 037955 and TM 046958 (actual record states TM 037955 and TM 946-958, but this is assumed to be an error) (NMR TM 09 NW 16) and this corresponds well with the location of these earthworks. It is therefore possible that these earthworks relate to the former medieval village of Baconsthorpe. The nearby moated site at West Carr (NHER 20087) further along the tributary to the west, is also located in a comparable setting. The nearby presence of Attleborough Hall moated site to the east must also be noted.
The aerial photographs indicate that these enclosures were at least partially surviving as earthworks as late as 1999 (S5).
S. Horlock (NMP), 01 February 2013.

The 2005 watching brief maintained during the construction of the works compound did actually record features that were likely represent the south-east corner of the eastern enclosure, but the significance of these remains was not recognised.
See report (S8) and NHER 41940 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 May 2022.

July 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The southern sides of the enclosures were shown to be associated with substantial ditches that were up to 10m wide and 2m deep. Apart from a small quantity of residual Roman material and two medieval pottery sherds the finds from these ditches were all of post-medieval date. A number of features recorded within the interior of the western enclosure also produced exclusively post-medieval finds, including a possible beam slot. It is therefore likely that at least the final phase of activity associated with these enclosures occurred during the post-medieval period, although an earlier origin remains possible, particularly given the presence of at least one well-date high medieval feature in the vicinity. The exact nature of the activity associated with the enclosures is also somewhat uncertain, particularly as none of the samples taken from the fills of the excavated features produced evidence that would be indicative of occupation.
See report (S9) and NHER 41940 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 May 2022.