NHER 64841 (Monument record) - Undated possible ditches and pits

July 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of north-western part of site.
The four trenches excavated revealed no archaeologically-significant features or deposit.
The only remains identified were a probable tree-throw hollow and an east-to-west aligned ditch that was regarded as a modern feature (although it should be noted that no features or boundaries are shown at this location on any of the available 19th- and 20th-century maps).
There was no therefore no evidence for the linear 'entrenchment' shown on the Mousehold map of 1585 that has previously been recorded as potentially passing through the northernmost part of this site (NHER 9687).
It was though noted that the site had potentially sustained heavy plough truncation, with only a thin topsoil deposit present and numerous plough scars visible on the surface of the natural geology. The lack of unstratified finds does though suggest it is unlikely this location had seen significant past activity.
See report (S1) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.22).
P. Watkins (HES), 7 April 2021.

May 2017. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area close to White House Farm.
This study concluded that this land has a low/moderate potential to contain archaeological remains of Late Prehistoric to modern date.
The available cartographic sources suggest that this particular site has been arable land since at least the late post-medieval period.
No archaeologically- or historically-significant features were noted during a brief site visit.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 April 2021.

March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Detailed magnetometer survey of proposed development site (Field 5).
The responses identified as most likely archaeologically-significant include north-west to south-east and east-to-west aligned linear positive anomalies at the southern end of the site and an north-east to south-west aligned linear anomaly to the north. The alignment of the latter (perpendicular to the adjacent extant boundaries) suggests that it potentially represents a former field boundary of relatively recent date. This is also potentially a continuation of the ditches observed in a trench to the west.
A small number of discrete anomalies were identified as potentially representing infilled pits.
Scattered dipolar anomalies most likely represent ferrous objects in the topsoil, although it is noted that these can also indicate the presence of thermoremnant features such as kilns or furnaces. Discrete, amorphous patches of magnetic disturbance scattered across the site were of uncertain origins (having many possible causes).
Nothing was identified that can be related to the linear 'entrencement' shown on the Mousehold map of 1585 that potentially passed through this site (NHER 9687). There was also no obvious trace of the World War Two bomb crater visible at the western edge of the area examined on 1940s and 1950s aerial photographs (NHER 51915).
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 April 2021.