NHER 6681 (Monument record) - Site of Saxthorpe Castle

Alleged site of Saxthorpe Castle.
T. McClough (NCM)

RAF air photographs suggest moated house site of Lound Hall.
A. P. Baggs (NAU)

(S1) states that the Castle was that of William de Valence.

1972.
Excavation of lengths of flint wall in field by owner; pottery, bones and nails also found.
See (S2) and (S3) which states there was brick in the wall and a large area of burning.
Tiles were also found.
Field is called Prospect Point.

1980. Found with metal detecting on this site, ploughed field.
Barbarous radiate coin, irregular copy of Postumus 259 to 68 AD.
Identified A. Gregory (NAU)
Long cross penny Edward II (1307-27) Canterbury mint.
15th century copper alloy casket key.
Two lead weights, one with suspension hole, other cruciform with central boss perhaps originally with suspension hole, undatable.
1749 token Norwich of Richard Bacon, Cockey Lane.
George I and George III halfpennies.
S. Margeson (NCM) 12 June 1980.

D.Edwards (NLA) states that the RAF photograph number given is incorrect and cannot be traced (However it was correct, was later found and is filed as TG13/1031/A.)
The photograph is reproduced in (S2) and shows a large dark rectangular enclosure surrounding a black square.
(S2) shows the excavated wall.

Site visited by E. Rose with the new owner on 11 November 1993.
The location of the cropmark and wall is surprisingly on a slope, recently ploughed.
No finds in field, but some patches of light sandy clay showing through soil at top, no coherent pattern.
Two fragments of undatable mortared flint thrown into the wood at foot of slope are said to come from the wall.
E. Rose (NLA) 12 November 1993.

28 February 1994.
1 diamond-rouletted jar rim Thetford-type.
1 base medieval unglazed.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 2 March 1994.

1994.
3 medieval unglazed.
1 unglazed Grimston.
4 Glazed Red Earthenware, 1 post medieval stoneware.
1 schist hone fragment of unknown date.
1 large hunk of medieval brick.
Other small fragments of medieval and post medieval brick, post medieval roof tiles.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 13 April 1994.

August/September 1995. Metal detecting finds.
1 Roman coin. See list in file.
?Middle Saxon or Late Saxon, Viking, buckle frame fragment.
Double frame, broken, with 2 animal heads in the round, one with projecting trefoil lobe, Ringerike affinities.
Animal head is cat-like, with round ring-and-dot eyes.
Identified S. Margeson (NCM).
A. Rogerson (NLA) 10 November 1995.

In the early 14th century Aylmer of Valance, Earl of Pembroke, built a manor house, probably on this site, see (S4). It seems unlikely that Aylmer, who also owned Castle Acre, built a castle here, and the large moated site on the RAF aerial photograph is more likely to be a medieval manor house, probably of some size and status.
Cozens-Hardy, in (S5), writes that 'there is no castle here, or the vestige of one'.
S. Spooner (NLA) 8 September 2005