NHER 66877 (Monument record) - Potentially medieval to post-medieval enclosures and associated remains

November 2010. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area to north-east of Norwich.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 May 2023.

September 2012-March 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Field 3).
This survey identified a number of fragmentary linear anomalies in the north-western part of the site that are likely to represent ditches associated with a small group of sub-rectangular enclosures. These features are mostly aligned north-to-south or east-to-west, the one exception being a north-east to south-west aligned anomaly that appears to represent part of the southern side of one of the enclosures. This arrangement mirrors a pronounced diversion in the extant field boundary immediately to the west, suggesting that its line potentially fossilises the western side of this enclosure. This apparent relationship with the late post-medieval field system coupled with the alignment of the enclosures suggests they are probably medieval to post-medieval in date. It is potentially notable that they lie immediately to the south of a long, sinuous field boundary running between Spixworth Road and the southern end of Red Hall Park (NHER 56247), which could potentially represent the line of a former routeway running parallel to Beeston Lane.
Various discrete anomalies in the vicinity of these probable enclosure ditches are also thought to be potentially archaeologically-significant. These may represent contemporary pit-type features and other remains.
Although numerous discrete areas of magnetic enhancement were also recorded elsewhere on the site these are all thought to have been caused by changes in the underlying natural geology. Scattered isolated dipolar anomalies and areas of magnetic disturbance around the field margins probably represent ferrous material (most likely modern debris).
Various other linear anomalies are all probably the result of recent agricultural activity.
There is no evidence for surviving remains associated with a linear bank visible on aerial photographs and thought to relate to a Roman or later road (NHER 52126).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 May 2023.