NHER 64897 (Monument record) - Probable area of medieval settlement and post-medieval pits

January 2015. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a band of east-to-west and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies in the southern half of the site that are likely to represent an area of former settlement. In the vicinity of these were a number of small, discrete positive anomalies likely to represent backfilled pits and several positive area anomalies. A small number of the positive linear anomalies were also associated with negative linear anomalies that potentially represent banks or other surviving earthworks of archaeological interest.
At least some of the anomalies at the eastern end of the main concentration are likely to be associated with a former dwelling and adjacent detached outbuilding shown at this location on the Mattishall tithe map of 1838 (S1). Two more extensive north-north-east to south-south-west aligned positive linear anomalies and an amorphous area of magnetic disturbance correspond with former field boundaries and a pond that are also depicted on this map. Both the buildings and the pond had disappeared by the time the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map was published in 1886.
A number of relatively short positive linear anomalies and scattered discrete anomalies identified across the remainder of the site are of a more uncertain nature, although at least some may also represent archaeologically-significant remains.
Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the site are the result of substantial nearby ferrous metal objects such as fences and underground services. A number of discrete magnetic ‘spikes’ are likely to indicate the presence of ferrous metal objects in the topsoil - most likely modern debris.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 May 2021.

March 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
A total of nine trenches were excavated, the majority of which were positioned to investigate the main band of anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. As expected these anomalies were found to correspond with a reasonably dense concentration of linear and discrete features, the majority of which were of probable medieval date. The medieval pottery assemblage recovered suggests that activity could have begun as early as the 11th century, although the bulk of the excavated features were of probable 12th- to 14th-century date, including the principle east-to-west aligned ditches. Notable features of probable medieval date included a cobbled surface interpreted as the remains of an east-to-west road or track and a sub-rectangular clay-lined possible oven. The interpretation of the latter could only be tentative as it was not excavated and a sample taken from its fills produced little in the way of charred plant macrofossils. Although no structural remains were exposed, the dark fills within many of medieval features suggested that they contained deliberately deposited waste - indicating an area of settlement probably lay close by. Samples taken from a selection of features were however generally unproductive, with the majority producing little apart from charcoal and occasional fragmented cereal grains. Small quantities of animal bone were though also recovered from many of the excavated features. The only other find of note was a fragmentary lava quern found in one of several large possible quarry pits at the western end of the site.
There was little evidence for significant late medieval or early post-medieval on the site. The small number of later features including two pits at the eastern end of the site that both produced late post-medieval pottery and were therefore potentially associated with the dwelling shown at this location on the Mattishall tithe map (S1). Post-medieval brick and tile was also apparently present in one of several patches of possible colluvial material identified in the north-west part of the site.
It is highly likely that the features uncovered at this site represented an area of former settlement along the edge of an area of common land known as West Green. This common land is depicted on Faden’s map of 1797 (S3) and it is clear that the main concentration of remains would have coincided with it southern boundary (Rayner’s Farm immediately to the east being depicted as lying on adjacent to its southern edge).
See report (S4) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.598).
P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2021. Amended 19 January 2026.