NHER 69682 (Monument record) - Possible area of medieval or later settlement and post-medieval and undated ditches

October 2022-February 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large potential development site (Area 6).
This survey identified a notable cluster of strong linear and discrete anomalies in the south-west corner of the site which appear to represent a group of adjacent rectilinear enclosures associated with numerous pit-type features. These features can be seen to continue into the field to the west (NHER 69650) and potentially represent an area of former medieval or later settlement – perhaps one ranged along some form of now lost east-to-west aligned track or road extending westwards from the Norwich Road.
Potentially archaeologically-significant responses across the remainder of the site are largely limited to linear anomalies. These include a number of roughly north-to-south and east-to-west aligned responses that clearly correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the North Walsham tithe map (S1). North-north-west to south-south-east aligned linear anomalies in the south-west part of the site are potentially associated with the possible settlement remains identified in the corner of the field, although their position and orientation also suggests a relationship with the field system present in the late post-medieval period. As in the field to the west (NHER 69650) several north-west to south-east and north-east to south-west aligned linear anomalies potentially represent ditches associated with an earlier system of land division. Many of these linear anomalies also coincide with linear cropmarks visible on aerial images of this location (all part of a group of multi-period remains recorded as NHER 54929).
An east-north-east to west-south-west aligned linear anomaly crossing the central part of the site is probably associated with a modern boundary.
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.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 January 2025.