NHER 1087 (Monument record) - North Elmham Great Wood

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Summary

A Great Wood dating back to Saxon times. It was partly destroyed during the Second World War. The surviving parts consist mostly of coppiced hazel. Its boundary bank is still visible in places along the north and east sides. The wood was known as 'Burgrave Wood' in the 14th century. Fieldwalking in the area has recovered Neolithic and Bronze Age worked flints, and Roman and Saxon pottery fragments.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF92SE
Civil Parish NORTH ELMHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Map

North Elmham Great Wood partly destroyed during second world war.
Surviving parts consist mostly of coppiced hazel. Boundary bank still visible in places along north and east sides. Known as 'Burgrave Wood' in 14th century.
P. Wade-Martins (NAU).

20 March 1977. At a clearing in the wood made into a cereal field.
Context 1, at 9685 1995: scatter of Roman sherds.
Context 2, at 9685 2002, in another clearing: patch about 20m by 20m of dark soil, charcoal, brick, pantiles, large rim of stoneware bottle: probably site of 18th to 19th century building or dump.
A. Rogerson (NAU) and N. Adams.

Spong fieldwalking list (in file) adds to context 1: Neolithic flint scatter, Bronze Age flints and three Early Saxon sherds.
E. Rose (NAU), 3 September 1982

For similar cases of 'ancient' woodland being post-Roman see (S1).

Lists, Nature Conservancy Council report (S2) and press cutting (S3) in file.

  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Neolithic. Newton (Flotman).
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Slide: Various. Slide.
  • <S1> Article in Serial: Bellamy, B.. 1994. Anglo-Saxon Dispersed Sites and Woodland in Rockingham Forest.. Landscape History. Vol 16, p 31. p 31.
  • <S2> Unpublished Report: Nature Conservancy Council. 1969. North Elmham Great Wood.
  • <S3> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1981. Top badger haunt is saved. 24 June.
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BRICK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

May 17 2022 1:57PM

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