NHER 66617 (Monument record) - Probable medieval settlement remains

November 2020-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Norwich Western Link (Area 22).
This survey identified a extensive, relatively dense cluster of linear anomalies in the central part of the site. Although these responses are quite fragmentary/intermittent in places their regular arrangement and consistent alignments suggest they are likely to represent a group of related ditches, perhaps forming a series of rectilinear enclosures. One intermittent group of roughly north-to-south linear anomalies corresponds with a former field boundary shown on the Honingham tithe map but the other likely to relate to an earlier phase of activity.
Although various discrete anomalies were also identified these are mostly regarded as being of undetermined or natural origin. Possible exceptions include two large strong anomalies that may represent evidence for burning or firing activities.
Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the site and scattered dipolar ‘spikes’ were probably caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface – most likely modern debris. The majority of the other responses recorded are either natural in origin or the result of recent agricultural activity.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a group of faint linear cropmarks visible on aerial photographs of this field (NHER 54364), although these can be seen to coincide with the main cluster of geophysical anomalies and their recorded alignments are broadly comparable.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 May 2026.

May-July 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Norwich Western Link (Field TT05; Trenches 213-214, 217-242).
The 28 trenches excavated revealed numerous linear and discrete features, the majority of which were of likely medieval date – including various ditches associated with the linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey.
The only features that could be tentatively associated with earlier activity were a pit and a ditch at the southern end of the site that both produced single Early Iron Age pottery sherds. A sample taken from the fill of the pit contained cereal grain fragments and a small amount of charcoal while the ditch also produced a small fragment of unidentifiable copper alloy sheet. A small assemblage of prehistoric worked flints and two Roman pottery sherds were also recovered, although these were all probably residual within later features.
The medieval pottery assemblage consists almost exclusively of high medieval wares, with only a small number of early medieval sherds present and late medieval notably absent – suggesting a 12th- to 14th-century date for the main phase of activity at this location. The majority of the medieval and potentially medieval features were concentrated in the central part of the site, which is consistent with the results of the geophysical survey. It is likely that the numerous north-north-west to south-south-east and east-north-east to west-south-west aligned ditches in this area were associated with a series of rectilinear enclosures.
Various pits and post-holes recorded in the central part of the site were probably associated with the medieval phase of activity, although, as with the ditches, the majority produced little or no dating evidence. The more notable discrete features included a 'figure-of-eight' shaped pit interpreted as a possible corn-drying oven, a sample from which contained a moderate amount of charred cereal grain. Other features that had potentially been associated with specific activities included a pit with a possible clay lining. Samples taken from a number of other pits and ditches also proved to be reasonably rich in charred plant macrofossils, with moderate to frequent cereal grains present in several, although only limited chaff was noted – suggesting that large-scale crop processing was taking place elsewhere. The identifiable grains are predominantly wheat, although rye, barley and oats are present. Legumes, including possible bean fragments were noted, along with the seeds of weeds that had probably been accidentally harvested along with the crops. Other finds recovered from the features of likely medieval date included probable daub fragments, pieces of lava quern and a small amount of animal bone.
As indicated by the geophysical survey a number of more north-to-south aligned ditches were also present in the western half of the site. Several of these features produced medieval pottery, although the extent to which they were broadly contemporary with the other remains is unclear at present. One north-to-south aligned ditch did though contain pieces of late post-medieval bottle glass and clearly corresponds with a former field boundary shown on the Honingham tithe map (S1). A piece of post-medieval roof tile recovered from other ditch was the only other evidence for more recent activity on the site.
There was again no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the group of cropmarks recorded at this location (NHER 54364), although, as noted above, they coincide with the main concentration of medieval remains and their alignments are broadly similar to those of the possible medieval enclosures.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 May 2026.