NHER 26612 (Monument record) - Earthworks and cropmarks of possible post medieval salt production site

August 2001. Norfolk NMP.
The features take the form of large dark marks on the saltmarsh turf, many with straight edges and regular, sub-rectangular shapes. At the eastern end of the large westernmost feature (TF 6506 3032) is a sub-rectangular feature positioned within a meander of a saltmarsh channel (TF 6501 3033). Within the centre of the site are some short stretches of ditch or drainage channel (TF 6516 3025). To the east of these are some low-lying mounds situated around the meanders in a saltmarsh channel (TF 6522 3019). These may be mounds of waste, although they may also be natural sand accumulations. The easternmost feature (TF 6533 3018) is to the east of the Ingol Channel/Wolferton Creek, and appears to be filled with water. This feature in particular may simply be an extraction pit or feature relating to water management/flood defence, although it may also have been originally related to salt production.
The actual function of these features is unclear. They may be associated with salt processing, and share common morphological attributes with the salt production features 26616. This area is marked as 'Saltings' on the 1902-7 revision Ordnance Survey map (S2). They are excessively large for filtration units although they may be for solar evaporation. Equally there are very few mounds of waste sand, although this material may have been incorporated into a bank or flood defence system. It seems likely that these features are post medieval in date, post-dating the construction of sea banks NHER 26644 and 26628 to the immediate north and east. The construction of the banks and the Wolferton Creek sluice and pumping station would necessitate the location of salt production or at least sand extraction sites on the coastal side of the flood gate, as there would a minimal tidal influence to the east. It cannot be ruled out that these features are simply quarry pits for the construction or repair of a sea defence bank.
M. Brennand (NMP), 13 August 2001.