NHER 69647 (Monument record) - Possible area of medieval or later settlement, post-medieval and undated field boundaries and undated possible pits

October 2022-February 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large potential development site (Area 1).
Of particular interest is a thick band of ditch- and pit-like responses at the southern edge of the site, adjacent to the Aylsham Road, some of which have a high magnetic strength. Although the ditch-like anomalies are fragmentary their arrangement appears to be rectilinear, suggesting they potentially formed enclosures. The nature of these anomalies suggests they may well represent remains associated with an area of medieval or later roadside settlement.
A number of much more extensive, north-north-east to south-south-west and west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies correspond with former field boundaries shown on the North Walsham tithe map (S1). A number of other, similarly-aligned linear anomalies probably represent earlier elements of the same field system. Two adjacent north-east to south-west aligned linear anomalies crossing the southern half of the site may represent much earlier field boundaries, although it is noted that these responses are not necessarily archaeological in origin.
Other potentially archaeologically-significant responses include two groups of pit-like discrete anomalies in the northern half of the site, one at TG 2685 3058 and the other at TG 2714 3054. The remaining discrete anomalies are thought to be mostly the result of variations in the underlying geology.
Areas of magnetic disturbance at the margins of the field and scattered dipolar 'spikes' were probably caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface – most likely modern debris.
Although cropmarks thought to potentially represent a double-concentric ring-ditch have previously been noted on aerial imagery of this location no corresponding anomalies were identified (NHER 54927). A re-examination of the source in question does though suggests the marks observed are potentially geological in origin.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 January 2025.