NHER 69246 (Monument record) - Middle Iron Age, potentially Roman, post-medieval and undated remains

March 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on route of proposed West Winch Housing Access Road (Section 2).
This survey of the south-easternmost third of the site recorded a number of weak linear and curvilinear anomalies. Although these may well be of natural or agricultural origin the possibility that they represent archaeologically-significant remains cannot be entirely discounted. The same is true of a cluster of weak discrete anomalies.
Scattered discrete ferrous anomalies were probably caused by ferrous objects on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2023.118).
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2025.

September 2023. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential impact of proposed West Winch Housing Access Road.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2025.

April-May 2025. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on route of proposed West Winch Housing Access Road (Trenches 12-51).
The 40 trenches excavated at this location revealed various scattered linear and discrete features. There was some limited evidence for prehistoric activity on the site, with a small assemblage of Mesolithic and Late Prehistoric worked flints recovered – although these were all probably residual. The one feature of definite prehistoric date was a sub-circular pit in the northernmost part of the site that contained Middle Iron Age pottery. A sample from one of its fills produced charcoal and a charred hazelnut shell fragment.
Other features of note included a short linear feature or elongated pit that produced two Roman pottery sherds. The function of this pit is uncertain, with a sample from its fill producing only a small amount of charcoal.
Two parallel north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditches were recorded in the central part of the site, one of which coincides with the line of a former field boundary shown on the North Runcton tithe map (S3). The adjacent feature produced single fragments of post-medieval brick and pottery.
Undated remains included two north-west to south-east aligned ditches, several small possible pits and a single post-hole. One of the pits was recorded within a trench that coincided with the cluster of discrete anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. None of the linear anomalies recorded by this survey appeared to be associated with sub-surface remains.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2025.