NHER 27864 (Monument record) - Medieval to post medieval features

June 2003. Norfolk NMP.
Two sub-rounded saltern mounds are visible, centred on TF 6347 2157 and TF 6341 2150 (S1). The mounds are slightly elongated, and have maximum diameters or lengths of 56m and 59m. The northernmost mound has a small farm built on top of it in 1947 (S1). The southernmost mound appears to have been later incorporated into a bank, and there are short lengths of linear earthwork running in an eastern and western direction from the southern edge of the mound. There is a second length of less regular bank running from the area between the two saltern mounds towards the west, albeit in a meandering course. This feature is obviously following the course of a meandering channel, and may represent an attempt to control the course of the river or prevent flooding of the land to the north of the channel. The are to the immediate north has a form of ridge and furrow type earthworks, although these may be relative recent and may have acted more as lazybeds, designed to aid drainage.
The southern most mound has two circular ring banks or stack bases on top of it. There are further two circular features to he immediate north, post-dating the length of irregular bank. The features are typically represented by a narrow, circular bank. Two of the features have traces of a narrow external ditch and one has traces of a narrow internal ditch. The features range in diameter from 9.7m to 13.90m.
The saltern mounds are probably medieval, and were formed by the piling up of the waste sand from salt filtration, while the area was still saltmarsh. The banks may represent Late medieval or early Post-medieval attempts to reclaim the saltmarsh and prevent flooding by the sea of tidal water courses, and the ridge and furrow style earthworks and the stack stands presumably represent agricultural activity taking place on the reclaimed land during the Post-medieval period.
M. Brennand (NMP), 24 June 2003.