NHER 17447 (Monument record) - Medieval moated site

1973.
Earthwork of possible moat with southern annex.
Plotted by A. Gregory (NAU) from aerial photographs.
A. J. Walker (NAU) 1 April 1981.

February 1991.
Site lies southwest of St Nicolas's Church, NHER 2354, east of River Wensum.
Rectangular moat measuring about 60m north to south, about 52m east to west.
Moat about 2 to 3m wide, 1m deep.
South arm fades to west end.
No ditch along west side, where platform slopes gently to river.
There is a possible entrance causeway to east.
An oval annex to the south is about 20m diameter along long axis.
A square raised area seen to west of church.
Moats are dry.
Some mole disturbance, and minimal cattle poaching.
Site form in file.
H. Paterson (A&E), February 1991.

11 December 1991.
Seen from adjacent churchyard.
Area of island raised above field, causeway on east.
Large dry pond or depression to south.
Site under grass.
E. Rose (NLA), 12 December 1991.

April 1998.
In good condition, minimal poaching under old hawthorn.
Two rabbit holes and a little mole disturbance.
H. Paterson (A&E), 21 April 1998.

April 1998. Earthwork Survey
Survey at 1:1000. May be a manorial site, but its position on glebe land near the church could indicated that this is the site of a rectory.
Finds from platform included:
2 Middle Saxon pottery sherds (2 sandy Ipswich Ware body sherds, 1 fresh).
2 Late Saxon pottery sherds (Thetford Ware body sherds).
5 medieval pottery sherds (1 early medieval unglazed jar rim, 3 unglazed body sherds and 1 glazed Grimston body sherd).
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd (1 LMT body sherd).
2 post-medieval pottery sherds (1 Glazed Red Earthenware and 1 black glaze).
Finds identifed by A. Rogerson (NLA).
See report (S1) further details and copy of plan (S2). This survey is also noted in (S3).
B. Cushion (NLA), 30 April 1998. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 March 2015.

8 May 1998. NLA air photography.
Earthworks of moat clearly visible.
S. Massey (NLA), 22 November 2001.