NHER 69923 (Monument record) - Roman ditch, probable site of medieval settlement and post-medieval ditches

October 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development site (F3 and F5).
A range of linear anomalies were recorded, including a north-to-south aligned response and several east-to-west aligned responses that clearly correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Barnham Broom tithe map (S1).
Various more fragmentary linear anomalies were recorded in the northern half of the site which potentially represent elements of earlier field boundaries and/or enclosures. A number of potentially archaeologically-significant discrete anomalies were also recorded in this part of the field. It is potentially notable that all of these possible features lie to the south of the northernmost east-to-west aligned post-medieval ditch – suggesting this potentially fossilised the line of a significant earlier boundary. It is possible this was originally the line of the trackway to the east, which now dog-legs around the northern edge of this field.
Four large discrete anomalies in the central and southern parts of the site are thought to probably represent infilled quarry pits of likely post-medieval or later date.
A number of linear anomalies at the southern end of the site were probably the result of recent agricultural activity, while scattered discrete dipolar 'spikes' were probably associated with ferrous material on or close to the surface – most likely modern debris.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 July 2026.

March-June 2025. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 45-89).
The 45 trenches excavated at this location identified a significant concentration of medieval remains in the northern half of the site.
The limited evidence for earlier activity included a small number of Mesolithic/Early Neolithic and Neolithic/Bronze Age worked flints, most, if not all of which were probably residual within later contexts. A single prehistoric pottery sherd of possible Early Bronze Age date was also recovered from an otherwise undated pit. The only feature that could be confidently identified as likely predating the main, medieval phase of activity was a ditch that contained a notable number of Roman pottery sherds, which appear to represent fragments of three vessels of probable mid-1st- to mid-2nd-century date. A single Roman pottery sherd recovered from another feature in the same trench was though the only other evidence for activity at this time.
Numerous pits and ditches of probable medieval date were recorded in the central part of the site, including a number of features that appeared to correspond with anomalies recorded by the preceding geophysical survey. As had been suggested by the geophysical survey the bulk of the medieval remains lay in a band immediately to the south of an east-to-west aligned ditch that can be seen to correspond with a former boundary shown on the Barnham Broom tithe map (S1). This concentration of medieval remains appears to have continued into the north-west corner of the field to the east (NHER 69924), with a number of ditches containing medieval pottery recorded in this area.
At this location it was observed that many of the medieval features were obscured by layers containing medieval finds that were thought to potentially represent deliberately dumped material. Various concentrations of large flints were noted within and beneath these deposits, including two distinct east-to-west aligned bands interpreted as wall footings. A number of medieval pottery sherds were recovered from amongst these loose, unbonded flints. It is suggested that a nearby concentration of flints potentially represented an associated north-to-south aligned wall foundation, although this was much more ephemeral. Another notable feature of the remains in this part of the site was the presence of numerous lava quern or millstone fragments, with one of layers close to the possible flint wall foundations found to contain a particularly large quantity. This material is clearly of interest, demonstrating that milling was potentially taking place at this location, although whether it can be directly associated with the potential structural remains recorded is uncertain. An alterative possibility is these quern or millstone fragments had been dumped with at least some of the flints as part of attempts to consolidate an area of uneven or disturbed ground.
The medieval pottery assemblage recovered comprises a mix of early medieval and high medieval wares and suggests that the main phase of activity occurred between the 12th and 13th centuries. Other finds from the features and deposits of probable medieval date included pieces of fired clay, fragments of animal bone, a pair of iron shears or tongs and a number of other iron objects. Samples taken from several of the features produced little in the way of charred plant macrofossil, although two did contain iron fragments that potentially represented metal-working debris.
There was little evidence for significant activity after the 13th century, with later remains largely limited to a number of ditches that clearly corresponded with former field boundaries shown on the available 19th-century maps.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 July 2026.