NHER 64055 (Monument record) - Remains of water defences known as The Loke, North End

These two ponds were one until after 1881 when Loke Road was cut across them. The first edition Ordnance Survey map shows a pond called Short Pond linking them to the Gaywood River and to a set of ponds marking the outline of a large bastion, called The Loke, cut by the Docks Railway. The northern of the two Long Ponds was dredged in 1983 but no deeper than a previous dredging in 1954. There is a local story that the pond is an old brick pit but this is derived from the existence nearby in the 19th century of Johnson's brickyard, later a ropewalk (information from King's Lynn Museum).
E. Rose (NAU).

(S1) suggests that the Loke was dug out in 1642 since the north side of the town had no ramparts.
Maps of this area show a series of sluices, weirs and long and short ponds which were initially part of the town defences and later appear to have formed part of the waterworks (NHER 64054). The two ponds are still present and water-filled (2020).
According to (S4), (S2) and (S3) suggest an independent ovate earthwork, rather than a mere bank and ditch, bounded on the south by the Fisher Fleet and on the north by an ?artificial bank and ditch. It could have ben Elizabethan, medieval or date from the Civil War. (S4) considers an Elizabethan date most likely.
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 28 February 2020.

March 2024, Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site at Kettlewell House.
One of the trenches excavated encountered the southern edge of the 'Short Pond' reservoir. This substantial feature could be seen to truncate the deep made-ground deposit that overlay the laminated natural alluvial clayey silts and clayey sands.
No finds were recovered.
Information from draft report. See NHER 64057 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 February 2024.