NHER 66457 (Monument record) - Undated but potentially medieval to post-medieval enclosures and associated remains

October 2020-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Areas 104 and 105).
This survey identified a concentration of fragmentary linear anomalies in the central part of this site, the majority of which are aligned roughly north-to-south or east-to-west. These are likely to represent infilled ditches and a number clearly formed elements of small rectilinear enclosures. The density of these remains suggests that they were probably the result of a prolonged period of occupation. Elements could well be medieval, particularly given the site's proximity to the deserted village of Roxham (NHER 16534). At least some of the features are probably post-medieval and a number may well have been associated with Roxham Farm, which previously occupied part of this site. The available 19th-century maps show a farmhouse at TL 6375 9969 and various farm buildings arranged around a yard to the north. A large area of magnetic disturbance marks the site of these buildings, which appear to have been mostly demolished during the latter half of the 20th century. One north-north-east to south-south-west aligned anomaly at the eastern end of the site clearly coincides with a former field boundary shown on 19th-century maps.
A number of the discrete anomalies identified were also regarded as potentially archaeologically-significant, including several large rectangular pit-like features within the main group of ditches.
A number of other linear anomalies are thought to represent the remnants of medieval or early post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation, including several groups of closely-spaced west-north-west to east-south-east aligned responses at the western edge of the field.
Scattered dipolar anomalies are likely to have been caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 April 2023.

July 2021. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potentially impact of proposed Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline.
For further details see report (S2), which was submitted as part of the Environmental Statement for the scheme.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 April 2023.

September 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Trenches 58-65).
The eight trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of ditches, although unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered. There was though a good degree of correlation between the results of this work and the preceding geophysical survey, with the majority of the anomalies investigated found to be associated with sub-surface remains. The trenching also revealed a number of linear features that had not been identified by the geophysical survey. The lack of finds from these features would seem to indicate this was not an area of former settlement, although it should be noted that the trenches only examined a small proportion of the remains identified (and were mostly placed at the margins of the group).
There was some limited evidence for activity on the site prior to the medieval period, with a number of prehistoric worked flints recovered from unstratified contexts. A small assemblage of Roman pottery was also recovered from the subsoil in a trench at the southern edge of the site, which had been positioned to investigated a number of north-to-south aligned ditches revealed by the geophysical survey. It is perhaps notable that the alignments of these features appear to have been slightly different to those of the ditches to the north.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 April 2023.