NHER 69144 (Monument record) - Undated and post-medieval ditches

October-November 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Norwich to Wymondham water pipeline (Area 27).
This survey identified a range of linear and discrete anomalies, although it is questionable whether any are of great archaeological significance. The majority of the more extensive, regular linear anomalies correspond with former field boundaries depicted on either the Wymondham tithe map (S1) or the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2). Another that extends perpendicular from one of these boundaries almost certainly represents an earlier element of the same field system. An area of magnetic disturbance in the south-west corner of the field corresponds with the site of a group of late 19th-century outbuildings. These building were relatively short-lived – appearing on (S2) but not (S1) and shown by later Ordnance Survey maps to have been demolished at some time between 1905 and 1938. It is possible that they were related to the large gravel quarry that was open to the south-east during the period they were extant.
An amorphous roughly north-west to south-east aligned band of magnetic disturbance in the northern part of the site it thought to be of natural origin.
There was no evidence for surviving remains associated with the east-to-west Roman road visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs of this location (NHER 19725)
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2025.

April-May 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Norwich to Wymondham water pipeline (Trenches 62 and 63).
One of the two trenches excavated at this location was placed to coincide with the line of the east-to-west Roman road visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (NHER 19725). No features or deposits potentially associated with this road were recorded – the only feature identified at this location being a probable palaeolochannel likely to correspond with the broad, north-west to south-east aligned linear anomaly identified by the preceding geophysical survey.
A north-to-south aligned ditch in this trench and a north-west to south-east aligned ditch in the trench to the south both coincided with former field boundaries shown on (S2). Brick and roof tile fragments of probable post-medieval date and a small amount of animal bone were recovered from the latter. Several additional, undated ditches were also recorded in the southern trench.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2025.