NHER 68785 (Monument record) - Post-medieval remains

November 2014. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential impact of proposed development.
No features of archaeological or historic interest were recorded during a site visit undertaken as part of this study.
It is noted that the Attleborough Inclosure map of 1815 (S1) shows an occupied dwelling in the central part of this site, within a small square parcel of land. This was the easternmost of a band of dwellings that extended westwards up to a former continuation of Hillend Lane. The plot of a second dwelling also partially coincided with the site, although the building itself had probably lain just outside its boundary. These buildings appear to have both disappeared by the time the Attleborough tithe map was produced in 1838 (S2), although many of the surrounding field boundaries were still extant. A further rationalisation of these boundaries then occurred during the latter part of the 19th century.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 January 2024.

February 2015. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a concentration of linear and discrete anomalies that clearly coincides with the dwellings and surrounding land parcels depicted on the 1815 enclosure map (S1). These features include a rectilinear enclosure complex and several groups of discrete pit-like anomalies close to the sites of the former dwellings. A number of other linear anomalies also correspond with field boundaries depicted on this and later maps.
Weak magnetic trends of uncertain origin were also identified. Scattered discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused my ferrous material on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 January 2024.

September 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site, with a total of nine trenches excavated.
The three trenches positioned to target the main concentration of geophysical anomalies revealed a range of corresponding north-north-east to south-south-west and west-north-west to east-south-east aligned ditches. Several pits were also recorded but there was little trace of the building that had once stood at this location. As expected these features were shown to be of relatively recent date, with the majority containing post-medieval pottery. Other finds included medieval/post-medieval and post-medieval brick and tile fragments, post-medieval bottle glass, pieces of clay tobacco pipe, a post-medieval furniture escutcheon, various iron objects, animal bones and a single fragment of iron slag. A sample taken from the fill of one of these features produced little of interest.
A trench immediately to the east of the former dwelling uncovered a pit and a single ditch, both of which were possibly associated with geophysical anomalies. These features were also post-medieval.
The single trench placed to coincide with one of the outlying field boundaries identified by the geophysical survey exposed a corresponding ditch but this produced no finds. The remaining trenches were placed to test areas the geophysical survey suggested were devoid of archaeological remains. No features were encountered within these trenches.
Although some of the ceramic building material recovered during this work could only be broadly dated as medieval to post-medieval it is notable that no other potentially medieval finds were recovered - suggesting this material was most likely also post-medieval. The only other artefactual evidence for earlier activity on the site was a small assemblage of residual prehistoric worked flints, including two pieces of probable Mesolithic/Early Neolithic date.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.605).
P. Watkins (HES), 9 January 2024.