NHER 36040 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Watching House Bank

2000. Field Observation and Desk-based Assessment.
Site identified during archaeological assessment of Holkham Estate.
The remains of a low grass bank, now much eroded by creeks, at the east end of which are the remains of a building (NHER 1807) ?the Watching House.
Only the east part was recorded in the field survey.
See report (S1) for further details.
K. Penn (NAU), 2 March 2001. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 April 2015.

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Remains of post medieval sea defence bank visible on (S2). It runs from NGR TF9297 4515 to TF9362 4511.
Mapped for NMP by A. Miller (Suffolk County Council NMP).
H. Clare (NMP), 11 October 2002.

May-November 2004. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey.
Inter-tidal survey (Environmental Zone 10), Context 873:
An east to west aligned sea defence bank, measuring between 5m and 10m wide by 2m high, was recorded between TF 92973 45146 and TF 93613 45167 (it extended into Warham parish). Unfortunately its eastern end was far from clear; it seemed to merge with a sand dune and this natural feature was recorded to TF 93892 44904. 20th century bricks were recovered from within the area of the sand dune. The bank is probably one of those one shown on maps of Wells dating to 1780, 1782 and 1784 ((S3-5), in (S6-7)).
See assessment report (S8) for further details.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.421).
J. Allen (NLA), 19 April 2005. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2019.