NHER 65958 (Monument record) - Medieval enclosure and trackway and other, undated and post-medieval remains

May 2020-January 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Area F215).
This survey identified a group of east-to-west, north-to-south and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies that appear to represent ditches forming a rectilinear enclosure and an adjacent trackway. The enclosure is 60m wide and bisected by the modern road to the north. The probable trackway lies to its west and can be seen to continue to the south of the enclosure. A number of high magnitude discrete anomalies within the enclosure potentially represent infilled pits, kilns or areas of burning.
Other responses of note include a north-to-south aligned linear anomaly that corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Reepham tithe map (S1). A perpendicular linear anomaly close to the northern edge of the field probably represents an earlier element of this field system.
A number of scattered discrete dipolar anomalies are likely to represent ferrous objects on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris). The remaining discrete anomalies are all of probable geological origin.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 September 2024.
 
October 2020-June 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Area F215; Trenches 267-270).
The four trenches excavated suggested that the enclosure and adjacent trackway identified by the preceding geophysical survey were probably medieval in date. The limited evidence for earlier activity included a small assemblage of undiagnostic prehistoric worked flints recovered from one of the enclosure ditches and two Roman pottery sherds – one found in an otherwise undated ditch and the other residual within a later feature.
The ditches forming the western and eastern sides of the enclosure were both shown to have been recut, as had the adjacent ditch forming the western side of the trackway. A medieval date for these remains was suggested by small amounts of pottery recovered from an enclosure ditch and one of the trackway ditches. Other finds recovered from this group of features included a single residual Late Saxon pottery sherd, undiagnostic brick or tile fragments, fragments of animal bone and an oyster shell. A sample taken from one of the enclosure ditches was found to contain charcoal, a small amount of charred grain and a pea.
A number of other ditches were uncovered within the enclosure, including a feature that corresponded with one of the more distinct discrete geophysical anomalies. A single Roman pottery sherd was though the only find recovered from these features so it is unclear how many were associated with the enclosure. The same is true for a number of undated east-to-west and north-to-south aligned ditches recorded in the area to the west of the trackway. The alignments of these feature are though slightly different to those of the enclosure, so these were probably associated with a different phase of activity.
Two trenches excavated in the western half of the site revealed only a single north-to-south aligned ditch. This feature had also been identified by the geophysical survey and corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Reepham tithe map (S1). It contained undiagnostic brick or tile fragments.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 September 2024.