NHER 69798 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric, Roman and medieval features and structural remains of probable post-medieval date

May 2019. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological impact of large proposed development.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2026.

April and September 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development site (Area 4).
This survey identified a band of north-north-east to south-south-west and west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies at the eastern edge of the site. These may represent roadside enclosures similar to those identified adjacent to Breck Farm Lane at several locations to the north. The anomalies at this location are though somewhat weaker and unlike the nearby groups no potentially associated discrete responses were identified.
There was little evidence for significant remains across the remainder of the site. A somewhat irregular north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomaly corresponds with a former field boundary shown on the Taverham tithe map (S2), while a perpendicular linear anomaly extending to the east likely represents an earlier element of the same field system.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2026.

July-September 2025. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 32-56 and 59-60).
A single trench placed to coincide with the main group of geophysical anomalies at the eastern edge of the site revealed a series of similarly aligned ditches. Small amounts of medieval pottery were recovered from two of these ditches hinting at a possible date for these features. This trench also revealed a number of wall fragments, although the extact nature of these remains was not resolved. The walls were though a mix of brick, flint and chalk, and flint and mortar suggesting that multiple buildings/structures were represented. These remains were associated with demolitions deposits containing roof slates and unfrogged bricks, although unfortunately no examples were retained from either these deposits or the walls themselves. The only finds recovered in the vicinity of these structures were two pottery sherds of late post-medieval to modern date. On balance it seems likely these were the remains of farm buildings associated with Breck Farm, although nothing is shown at this location on any of the available 19th-century maps.
The 26 trenches opened across the remainder of the site revealed some limited evidence for prehistoric and Roman activity at this location. Potentially prehistoric features included an probable natural hollow in the north-west part of the site that contained Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery and fragments of burnt flint. Two possible post-holes were recorded next to this feature but neither produced any dating evidence. A cluster of five small pits or post-holes in the north-west corner of the site were also potentially prehistoric, with one producing several Early Iron Age pottery sherds. Samples taken from two of these features were both found to contain frequent cereal grains, including wheat and barley. Additional Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and Early Iron Age pottery sherds were also recovered from a large probable natural feature at the southern edge of the site, which was also found to contain Roman pottery. The bulk of the small Roman pottery assemblage recovered at this location came from a west-north-west to east-south-east aligned ditch in the north-east corner of the site. A single abraded medieval sherd was also found in a probable continuation of this ditch, although this was possibly intrusive. Roman pottery sherds were also recovered from an isolated, otherwise undated pit in the central part of the site.
The small number of other features recorded included two adjacent north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditches that produced no finds but were clearly associated with a former field boundary shown on the Taverham tithe map (S2).
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2026.