NHER 12445 (Monument record) - Moat and manor site of the Bishops of Norwich, Blofield

Moated site or perhaps a mill?
Stream (Witton Run) forms south and east arms, sustantial linear depression in arable field forming west, and another in garden forms north side.

Pre 1981.
Small holes dug in interior by owner. Various finds recovered including:
1 Palaeolithic flint scraper. Identified by E. Rose (NAU), February 1981. From backfill or silting of northern arm.
Medieval brick fragments (4cm thick, purple/cream fabric, external straw impressions). Two samples retained.
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd (16th century glazed earthenware).
Also mortar fragments, and mortar and limewashed wallplaster, with numerous animal bones (mammalian).
E. Rose (NAU), 19 February 1981. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 May 2014.

February 1981.
About seventy medieval sherds, predominantly coarse, some glazed Grimston and non-Grimston. Two post medieval stoneware, one post medieval glazed, collected from central area about 40 square metres.

1982. NARG survey.
Suggests site of Bishop's Palace and later the seat of Edward Paston in 1586.
See (S1).

1985.
Much more 12th-13th century sherds, some very abraded perhaps glazed Grimston with glaze worn off.
W. Milligan (NCM).

1984-1989. Stray Find and Excavation.
Investigations by [1].
According to (S2) sherds of medieval pottery and fragments of brick and tile were recovered from the plough soil at various times. Several small holes were also dug, which recorded traces of brick, flint and mortar rubble below the plough soil. A single sherd of 16th-century pottery was recovered from the infilled northern arm of the moat. During these minor investigations a total of 70 medieval pottery sherds were also recovered from the upper deposits in the central area of the moat.
An archive associated with this work has been depoisted with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2022.156).
P. Watkins (HES), 5 December 2022.

Pre 1986. Stray Find.
A Late Upper Palaeolithic flint long blade core from Blofied is listed in a catalogue compiled by N. Barton (Donald Baden-Powell Quaternary Research Centre, Oxford). According to information supplied by J. J. Wymer this object was in the possession of [1], with the estimated grid reference given suggesting that it had probably been found at this site. It is noted that a scraper had also been found, possibly a reference to the implement found around 1981 (see above). It should be noted that this core was not amongst those subsequently listed in (S10).
See copy of relevant catalogue entry in file (from British Museum Wymer Archive).
P. Watkins (HES), 12 November 2014.

21 August 1990. NAU Air photography.
Cropmarks of fields and enclosures adjacent to site of moat.
D. Edwards (NAU).

November 2000. Desk Based Assessment.
See report (S2) for further details.
D. Gurney (NLA), 30 November 2000.

23 November 2000. Trial Trench.
Excavation of single trial trench.
Negative results.
Contexts 1-12.
See report (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also noted in (S9).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.215).
D. Gurney (NLA), 29 January 2001. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 April 2019.

January 2001. Archive of [1] deposited by [2] at NCM.
See (S4) and (S5).
D. Gurney (NLA), 2 January 2001.

The central grid reference of this site has been altered from TG 332 089 to TG 3308 0905 to include associated moated enclosures and boundaries.

June 2007. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks and soilmarks of a moated enclosure and boundaries associated with the Bishops' Palace are visible on aerial photographs to the immediate west and north of the site identified as the manor or Palace at TG 3319 0892 (S6-S8). The whole site is now centred on TG 3308 0905.
The western extent of the main moat is visible as both cropmarks and soilmarks and suggests an oval or oblong shape to the site. The eastern extent being indicated by the previously recorded earthworks and the course of the water channel running around the site. The ditch of the moat appears to be 8-11m wide and the remains of an outer bank are suggested by the pale soilmark surrounding the moat. An additional moated enclosure may have existed to the NE of the main one, although the cropmarks and soilmarks in this area are not clear. Additional channels and boundaries indicate a further series of enclosed areas to the west and north. Although some of these may postdate the main moated site and may be additions to the site. Any obviously post medieval elements, such as those corresponding with boundaries marked on the Tithe and Ordnance Survey maps, were omitted from the NMP mapping.
S. Massey (NMP), 28 June 2007.

August 2015. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of excavation of drainage trench through easternmost part of the site. A number of possible features could be tentatively associated with the recorded earthworks although it is noted that the identification of archaeological remains was generally hampered by both the narrow width of the trench and the fact that topsoil was not fully removed in some areas. The only definite feature recorded was a probable pit at c. TG 3321 0903.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.74).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 March 2021.