NHER 68230 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The site of a possible medieval moat and possible medieval to post medieval boundary ditches

April 2024. Wendling Beck and Fransham Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
The site of a possible medieval moat (see above) and possible boundary ditches, of a probable medieval to post medieval date, are visible as low earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1-S4). The earthworks are not visible on the visualised lidar data from a survey flown in 2017 (S5) and have presumably been levelled. The feature consists of a broad L shaped ditch which may relate to a section of a medieval moat. The interior of the possible moated site appears to be slightly raised on the aerial photographs (S2) and may relate to an internal platform. This feature has been mapped by extent as it is uncertain as to whether the raised area is archaeological or natural in origin. Three linear ditches are visible as cropmarks in the west of the area (centred at approximately TF 8947 1781). The date of these features is unknown. It is possible that the features could relate to the moated site. Equally, it is possible that these features may relate to medieval to post medieval field boundaries or post medieval to modern drainage ditches. It is also possible that the section of ditch centred at approximately TF 8948 1783 could relate to part of the western arm of the possible moat. Multi-period (including medieval and post medieval) finds have been previously recovered from across the area (NHER 15535).
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 17 April 2024.