NHER 69831 (Monument record) - Post-medieval remains associated with former Wereham Hall

October 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of proposed development site (Trenches 7-10).
The four trenches excavated at this location revealed walls and probable garden features likely to have been associated with Wereham House. This large dwelling was constructed in around 1831 – being recorded in (S1) as having been built "…by its present occupant John Houchen, Esq. about 14 years ago…". Described as "…a neat mansion, with large gardens and pleasure grounds" it was demolished at some point in the latter half of the 20th century. This work saw the investigation of an area that had been occupied by outbuildings and gardens to the south of the hall (the site of the main dwelling itself now occupied by a large agricultural store).
The remains uncovered included a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned chalk wall foundation that probably corresponds with a boundary shown at this location on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S2). Two perpendicular brick walls encountered within an adjacent trench probably represented the remnants of a stable block shown on the same map. A narrow, steep-sided curvilinear feature close to these walls was probably also post-medieval in date, although its exact function is uncertain.
There was also evidence for considerable landscaping, with exceptionally deep soils encountered at the southern end of the site – almost certainly material that had been imported to level out what had previously been naturally sloping ground.
There was no evidence for the icehouse shown on (S2) at TF 6830 0123, although it appears that none of the excavated trenches coincided with its location. It was apparently filled in "…some 40 years ago…".
The small number of unstratified finds recovered included a piece of post-medieval clay tobacco pipe and a copper alloy thimble of unspecified date (presumably also post-medieval).
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 6 May 2026.