NHER 33794 (Monument record) - Medieval enclosures

The Norfolk Heritage Explorer is a filtered version of the Norfolk HER intended for casual research. Please to consult the full record.

See also further .

Summary

Analysis of aerial photographs has identified one rectangular enclosure and assocaited field system on this site. These are probably represent a medieval toft as quantities of medieval pottery and roof tile were found within the enclosures, although map evidence is more enigmatic with the enclosures only showing on maps dated to 1768 and 1816 but not on Faden's map of 1797.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF90NW
Civil Parish BRADENHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Map

January 1946. RAF air photograph.
Shows meandering ditch, roughly parallel to and a few metres north of present roadside boundary, with one sub-rectangular ditched enclosure and a few north-to-south subdivision to east and west. The northern boundary is in part the meandering field boundary still existing in west, whilst the eastern portion has what appears as a ditched causeway extending west from narrow east end of field.

August 1998. Visit.
Confirmed area as arable, seen with stubble. A considerable spread of medieval pottery in central area, near to and
within enclosure. Informant [1] remembers the field being grass until the 1960s when it was bulldozed and levelled. Some slight undulations are apparent including a depression to west of enclosure which was a pond. Site appears to be a toft, possibly on north side of narrow common.
Pottery:
Medieval unglazed - eighteen body sherds, five bowl rims, including two flanged, two jar rims, one base.
Glazed Grimston - seven body sherds, three base sherds including late medieval.
One medieval roofing tile.
Two probable late medieval/early post medieval and one late medieval/early post medieval.
I.D. A. Rogerson (NLA).
B. Cushion (NLA) 1 September 1998.

September 1998. Rather confusing early map evidence for this area.
(S1) Late 18th century map (about 1768) a copy of lands bought by Lescendale in 1653 shows as enclosed lands.
(S2) Faden (1797) suggests common, or at least some form of waste land.
(S3) Enclosure Award 1816 shows two enclosures already existing, the eastern half of field is Great Wilkinsons, the western half Little Wilkinsons. These names do not readily appear to be for recent enclosure.
Interpretation still enigmatic, prefer medieval site but possible infill from elsewhere!
B. Cushion (NLA) 28 September 1998.

  • --- Aerial Photograph: TF 98/TF 9410/A.
  • <S1> Map: 1786. James Collection 18th century Map Bradenham.
  • <S2> Publication: Faden, W. and Barringer, J. C. 1989. Faden's Map of Norfolk in 1797.
  • <S3> Map: 1816. Bradenham Enclosure Map.
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

May 29 2025 8:21AM

Comments and Feedback

Your feedback is welcome; if you can provide any new information about this record, please contact the Norfolk Historic Environment Record.