NHER 66441 (Monument record) - Post-medieval to modern and undated remains

October 2020-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Area 1).
The phase of work saw the examination of the southernmost part of the site.
A substantial north-north-east to south-south-west aligned band of magnetic disturbance corresponds with one of the former runways associated with Downham Market airfield (NHER 2455). This is bounded by two linear anomalies likely to represent drains or gullies along the edge of the runway.
Also identified were two straight linear anomalies that clearly coincide with former boundaries depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2). The only other anomaly of note was a large discrete response at TF 6245 0370 which is likely to represent some form of pit.
Numerous discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 November 2022.

March-April 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Grantham to Bexwell pipeline (Area 216).
This survey saw the examination of a narrow north-to-south aligned strip running down the centre of the field.
A number of the larger anomalies recorded clearly represent surviving remains associated with former elements of Downham Market airfield (NHER 2455). These include runways, a tie-down area and a taxiway.
A number of widely spaced west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies are likely to represent ditches associated with former field boundaries. The majority of these correspond with boundaries depicted on the Wimbotsham Tithe map of 1840 (S1).
A large discrete anomaly at TF 6251 0408 corresponds with a former quarry pit depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 November 2022.

July 2021. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potentially impact of proposed Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline.
For further details see report (S4), which was submitted as part of the Environmental Statement for the scheme.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2022.

September 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Trenches 15-19).
Five trenches excavated at the southern end of the site revealed little in the way of archaeologically-significant remains, with only two ditches and a large probable extraction pit recorded.
A north-to-south aligned ditch at the eastern edge of the site was almost certainly associated with a former field boundary running adjacent to the old line of the A10 (as shown on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2)).
The second ditch was aligned north-north-east to south-south-west and coincided with one of the two linear geophysical anomalies likely to represent drainage features at the margin of the airfield runway that previously crossed this part of the site.
The probable quarry pit corresponds with the large discrete anomaly identified by the initial geophysical survey and is thought to have been of relatively recent date.
No finds were recovered at this location.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2022.

November 2021-March 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on route of Anglian Water Grantham to Bexwell pipeline (Area 15; Trenches 76-78 and 101-103)
Six trenches excavated along the eastern edge of this field revealed little in the way of archaeologically-significant remains, with only a single ditch and a pit recorded (both at northern end of the site), neither of which produced any dating evidence. The ditch was though probably of relatively recent date as it appears to coincide with a former field boundary depicted on the Wimbotsham tithe map of 1840 (S1). The other feature was a large probable extraction pit.
The main point of interest from this work is it serves to demonstrated the eastern limits of the remains identified in the field to the north-west (NHER 65590).
No finds were recovered at this site.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 November 2022.