NHER 38291 (Monument record) - Earthworks of banks, mound and irregular embanked feature

July 2003. Norfolk NMP.
There is a straight regular length of bank (S1) running in an approximately north to south direction from TF 6657 3245 to TF 6649 3216 (S1), essentially cutting off a large meander within the course of a saltmarsh channel and bank NHER 26632. There is a ditch running down the eastern side of the bank which may be a canalised rerouting of the meandering channel or simply a quarry ditch for the bank. There is shorter length of curvilinear bank to the south (TF 6647 3198) which may be a continuation of the larger bank or a localised flood defence bank on the inside of a meander in a saltmarsh channel. To the east of the straight length of bank is an elongated mound (S1), also curving around the northern side of a meander in a saltmarsh channel (TF 6660 3221). This is excessively wide for a flood defence bank, although it may have spread from its original form. It may also be a truncated saltern mound or simply formed from dredged material from the channel. To the immediate north is an irregular light soilmark (S2). The feature (centre: TF 6661 3230) has an approximately rectangular shape with a linear feature running approximately southwards, although the edges of the features are not regular. This may be simply be a ploughed out saltern mound although it does appear to have had a more regular structure such as an embanked enclosure. This feature may be natural.
The banks are likely to date from the Later medieval and post medieval periods, and are probably related to sea and flood defence and saltmarsh reclamation. The fact that the banks appear to post date bank NHER 26632 might suggest they date from the later part of the post medieval period.
M. Brennand (NMP), 10 July 2003.