NHER 6971 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of a medieval D-shaped enclosure and undated curved ditch

1961. Stray Find.
A fragment of Ipswich ware was found on the site of a D shaped cropmark east of the parish church.
Information from (S8).

January 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of a D-shaped enclosure of medieval date and an undated curved ditch are visible on aerial photographs (S1-5). These cropmarks are centred on TG 3336 3158 and have been partly excavated (S6). They were previously recorded as part of NHER 6969 (context 9) but have now been reassigned their original NHER number 6971.

A D-shaped enclosure cropmark is visible adjacent to an extant post medieval field boundary. Externally the enclosure measures 52m long (west to east) by between 19m and 26m wide (south to north). The surrounding ditch is up to 1.5m wide and does not contain any obvious breaks that could be interpreted as entrances. An 8m long section of slightly curved ditch is present outside the eastern edge of the enclosure and may be related to it. Four sections were excavated across the enclosure ditch during the 1960s or 1970s. Pottery of prehistoric, Saxon, medieval and later date was recovered (S6). Although the enclosure was initially assigned a Middle Saxon date, later interpretation suggested that a medieval origin was more likely (S6). However, it was acknowledged that the enclosure was cut through earlier occupation deposits, which are likely to have been Middle Saxon or possibly Iron Age in date.

No continuation of the enclosure ditch cropmarks has been recorded to the south of the post medieval field boundary to which it is adjacent. Consequently it has been assumed that the southern side of the enclosure lay beneath the current field boundary. However it is also possible that this west to east field boundary is of medieval date and that the enclosure was originally butted up to it. The field boundary is marked on the 1827 Witton enclosure map (S7).

A cropmark of a ring ditch, interpreted as a hut circle, has previously been noted within the enclosure (S6). Although a curved ditch cropmark is present, a complete ring ditch is not clearly visible on any of the aerial photographs (S1-5). If this semicircular cropmark formed a complete ring ditch it would have a diameter of 12.5m. It was not investigated during the excavation and its date and interpretation are uncertain. The presence of possible Iron Age or Middle Saxon deposits revealed during the excavation could suggest a date for this cropmark. However, it could also be a medieval feature directly associated with the enclosure, possibly part of a drainage gully around a stack stand.

Two roughly north to south ditches are present in the southern part of the enclosure. Whilst it is possible that the easternmost one represents an internal division within the enclosure, the western ditch crosses the post medieval field boundary and appears to be unrelated. The enclosure is also crossed by cropmarks of unrelated northwest to southeast aligned ditches (NHER 27237).
(S1-7)
J. Albone (NMP), 26 January 2005