NHER 3429 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks of a medieval moat
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Summary
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Location
| Map sheet | TF61SE |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | MIDDLETON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
Map
Full Description
1 June 1966. Ordnance Survey air photography.
Moat.
D. Voisey (NLA), 7 December 1995.
Probable moated site said to be known locally as 'The Castle'.
(S1), undated, in T.H.Mck. Clough's (NCM) handwriting; no further information.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU) 7 July 1978.
Area totally overgrown. Interior of 'moat' seems to be raised as much as 2m above surrounding field, but bushes make height hard to estimate. Ditches are now impassible barriers of nettles, brambles, hawthorn etc. There is a pub called the 'Castle' in the village.
E. Rose (NAU).
(S2) shows this as a very well preserved rectangular moated site, with east side narrower than other arms.
Copy of photograph in file.
E. Rose (NAU) 26 September 1991.
December 2007. Norfolk NMP
Earthworks of a medieval moat are visible on aerial photographs (S2-S3). The moat is rectangular in plan with a ditch of up to 10m in width and internal dimensions of 44m by 39m. Narrow drainage ditches lead from the southern corners of the moat. It is likely that this moat is of medieval date. It is possible that it is related to earthworks of enclosures and field boundaries located immediately to its west (NHER 50750). Aerial photographs dating from March 1971 (S3) show soil being dumped in the area immediately to the east of the moat. This appears to have extended up to the edge of the moat and may explain why the ditch on the east side is narrower than the rest (See September 1991 entry above).
J. Albone (NMP), 18 December 2007
June 2008.
Proposals to construct holiday chalets on the south of the site.
See (S4) for further details
H. White, (NLA), 25 September 2009
Site visited 20th January 2009 by K. Hamilton and D. Robertson (NLA). The site was confirmed as a probable moat, with three sides clearly visible (the east side is no longer visible). The platform has a spread of 15th-16th century roof tiles and lumps of dressed and undressed carstone. The east side has disappeared under dumping and landscaping carried out under a pre-PPG16 planning permission.
K. Hamilton 18 November 2009
Associated Sources (7)
- --- SNF87263 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Middleton.
- --- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
- --- SNF48020 Vertical Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1966. OS/66117 8 01-JUN-1966.
- <S1> SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
- <S2> SNF69310 Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 3G/TUD/UK/100 5259-60 30-MAR-1946 (NHER TF 6614A-B).
- <S3> SNF69308 Vertical Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1971. OS/71013 62-3 12-MAR-1971 (NMR).
- <S4> SNF72253 Unpublished Document: Adrian Parker Planning. 2008. Planning statement, Blackborough End, Middleton.
Site and Feature Types and Periods (2)
Object Types (0)
Related NHER Records (0)
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Record last edited
Oct 17 2025 9:50AM