NHER 66019 (Monument record) - Possible site of Woodton Hall (pre 1694) or the Hermitage Garden

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Summary

This is the site of a possible medieval moat, which is still water filled and possessing steep sides. The north end is now a large pond, but the remaining features do seem to be part of a complex of rectangular enclosures which could be a moat and outer yards. It is possible that this is the site of the Old Woodton Hall or Hermitage Garden (see also NHER 10157 and 10207). Previously recorded under NHER 10156 (which now only documents unstratified finds recovered from the field immediately to the west).

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TM29NE
Civil Parish	WOODTON, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

Site of possible medieval moated site. Previously recorded under NHER 10156 [1].

September 1978. Field Observation.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU).
Possible moat.
[2] says he has always believed it to be so.
Now overgrown by wood, only east side accessible; this is water filled with fairly steep sides, quite convincing, though at north end is now a large pond-was this made from the return shown on map?
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU) 27 September 1978. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 August 2022.

22 March 1972.
An Ordnance Survey aerial photograph shows this feature was only the eastern side of a complex of rectangular enclosures, resembling a moat with outer yards, but the proximity to the possible Hall site NHER 10207 is unusual.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU) 31 March 1981. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 August 2022.

Shown on new 1:2500 Ordnance Survey as of two compartments, small square north compartment with south side dry, and larger south compartment with east side water-filled, west side dry, no south side.
Pond noted above in fact attached to north-east corner of north compartment.
Marked as moat, antiquity.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU) 3 September 1985. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 August 2022.

See maps of 1839 and 1885 in file.
D. Gurney (NLA) 4 February 1997.

2 July 1996. NLA aerial photography.
Moated enclosures clearly visible on photographs taken.
Site of medieval hall or house, or possibly moated garden 'The Hermitage' referred to in NHER 10207.
S. Massey (NLA) 23 July 2001.

September 2002.
Due to foot and mouth, and previously swine fever, farmer asked that there should not be any visits at present, as he still has a controlled pig unit. Conifers were planted on the site some years ago, and the moat dredged down to the clay lining.
H. Paterson (A&E) 19 September 2002.

Management Statement signed 3 October 2002.
H. Paterson (A&E) 9 October 2002.

December 2025. HER Enhancement: Forestry Commission Project K.
The earthworks of the moat are also visible on visualised lidar data from a survey flown in 2022 (S2).
J. Powell (Norfolk County Council Environment Service), 08 December 2025

Associated Sources (8)

--- SNF49689 Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TM 2894T; TM 2895B - C.
--- SNF10720 Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. OS AP 72 035 005.
--- SNF87263 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Woodton.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TM 29 NE 7.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF51629 Unpublished Document: H. Paterson (A&E), MPP. Management Statement.
<S1> SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. NHER 10156.
<S2> SNF101413 LIDAR Airborne Survey: Environment Agency. Environment Agency LIDAR Data. National LIDAR Programme TM29NE DTM 1m 07-JAN-2022 TO 09-JAN-2022.