NHER 64817 (Monument record) - Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval remains

January 2017. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development site.
This study concluded that the site had a medium-high potential for Roman remains and a slightly reduced potential to contain evidence relating to medieval to post-medieval activity.
Cartographic sources suggest that this has been agricultural land since at least 1802.
Nothing of interest is visible on the aerial photographs consulted and no features of archaeological or historical significance were noted during a brief walkover survey.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2021.

January 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a range of linear and discrete anomalies, many of which are potentially archaeologically significant.
Those of particular interest include two parallel curvilinear anomalies in the north-west corner of the site that may represent the south-east corner of a sub-rectangular enclosure adjacent to Church Street. A number of straighter north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies to the south also potentially represent traces of least one rectilinear enclosure.
A number of much more extensive linear anomalies in the main part of the site clearly correspond with four former field boundaries depicted on the Great Ellingham Tithe map (S2).
A range of other, shorter linear anomalies are of a much less certain nature, although it is possibly at least some represent archaeologically-significant features.
A number of parallel anomalies were identified as traces of the asparagus cultivation furrows present at the time of the survey. An area of magnetic disturbance at the eastern edge of the field was also the result of modern agricultural activity.
A number of relatively large discrete anomalies were also identified. These are potentially infilled pits, although it is also possible that they could also indicate areas of burning or burnt debris (such as would be associated with kilns or oven). It is suggested that the largest discrete anomaly is possibly an infilled pond and this would also be a possible interpretation for a large anomaly identified at the point where three of the post-medieval field boundaries meet. A number of smaller discrete anomalies have also been identified as possible pits.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2021.

November 2020-January 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The 13 trenches excavated revealed a number of pits, post-holes and ditches, the bulk of which appear to have been associated with Late Saxon to medieval phases of activity. These remains were concentrated in the north-west corner of the site, in the area where the majority of the potentially archaeologically-significant geophysical anomalies had been identified.
Evidence for earlier activity on or near the site was limited to a small assemblage of finds, including Neolithic and Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age worked flints, fragments of Roman tile, three sherds of Early Saxon pottery and a single Middle Saxon sherd. All of these items were either unstratified or most likely residual in later contexts. It is possible that the Roman tiles had been deliberately brought to the site from elsewhere for reuse, particularly as one is heavily burnt.
The bulk of the small pottery assemblage recovered is Late Saxon in date, with only small numbers of early medieval and high medieval sherds present and later material notably absent – demonstrating that activity on the site had clearly begun by the 11th century but had potentially tailed off significantly by the 13th century. Features of probable 11th-century or earlier date included a group of adjacent pits and linear features in one trench that all produced sherds of Late Saxon pottery. Several clusters of intercutting pits and a number of post-holes in the westernmost trench were probably of a similar date, although this suggestion is largely based on the lack of later material, as most of these features produced few finds.
The small number of features that can be identified as potentially medieval include two fairly substantial north-to-west aligned ditches that correspond with the parallel geophysical anomalies thought to represent elements of a sub-rectangular enclosure. Although a trench to the south-west exposed a number of ditches that might have formed the southern side of this possible enclosure these were all smaller features of uncertain date. Medieval pottery was also recovered from a north-east to south-west aligned ditch to the south, which appears to have corresponded with a geophysical anomaly thought to represent part of a separate, differently-aligned rectilinear enclosure. Two particularly substantial pits at the western edge of the site also produced medieval pottery.
Other finds recovered from features of probable Late Saxon or medieval date included an iron possible tool or key handle, pieces of lava quern, fired clay (including several possible oven dome fragments) and fragments of animal bone. Samples taken from the fills of several potentially medieval features produced similar assemblages of charred cereal grains, chaff and weed seeds - material that most likely represents domestic hearth waste.
There was little other evidence for post-medieval or later activity on the site, with finds of this date limited to single fragments of post-medieval brick and pantile. It is though noted that one of the largest pits appeared to be cut through the subsoil layer, suggesting it was potentially much more recent in date. A ditch at the eastern end of the site corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Great Ellingham Tithe map (S2) and a north-north-west to south-south-east aligned ditch to the east of the main concentration of features was potentially of a broadly similar age (its orientation being similar to that of another former boundary shown on this map).
Undated remains of particular note include a linear feature containing a number of post-holes which lay close to one of the main concentration of Late Saxon remains. This probable post trench potentially represented the remains of some form of structure and was adjacent to another post-hole and a perpendicular linear feature or elongated pit.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 November 2022.