NHER 65419 (Monument record) - Undated probable ring-ditch and post-medieval field boundary ditches

February 2015. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development site.
Based on the known evidence the likelihood of the site containing archaeological evidence was adjudged to be minimal. It is however noted that it lies within an area with evidence for prehistoric, Roman, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval activity.
No features of interest were noted during a physical walkover of the site.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2022.

January 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
The survey identified a number of potentially archaeologically-significant linear anomalies. The most interesting of these responses was a semi-circular positive anomaly at the southern end of the site that potentially represented the remains of some form of ring-ditch.
Three east-to-west aligned positive linear anomalies were also identified in the southern half of the site, two of which potentially correspond with former field boundaries depicted on an early 19th century enclosure map (S2). This suggests that they were probably not of great antiquity, although it is of course possible that the mapped boundaries were the surviving elements of an earlier phase of land division. It is though also noted that exploratory geotechnical trenches had recently been dug in this part of the field, which may have been the cause of at least one of these anomalies.
A north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomaly can be more confidently associated with a former field boundary as it clearly corresponds with a feature shown on the Lingwood tithe map of 1838 (S4).
A group of strongly-contrasting magnetic anomalies in the north-east corner of the site are thought to represent the remains of a building of relatively modern date. Two linear anomalies were also seen as related to modern features - tentatively interpreted as a drain and a possible wall footing.
Numerous discrete dipolar responses are likely to have been caused by ferrous debris in the plough soil.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 February 2022.

February 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Archaeologically-significant remains were only revealed in the southernmost of the three trenches excavated, which had been positioned to investigated two of the linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Two ditches were exposed, one of which corresponded with the semi-circular linear anomaly. This slightly curving feature was c.1m wide and survived to a maximum depth of 0.16m. Unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered. The second ditch coincided with one of the three east-to-west aligned geophysical anomalies (the only one investigated). This ditch had been recut on at least one occasion and produced a single abraded brick fragment of late medieval or post-medieval date. Although limited this dating evidence is consistent with the available cartographic evidence (see above).
No unstratified finds were recovered.
See report (S5) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2019.107).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2022.