NHER 39599 (Monument record) - Medieval and post medieval enclosures and mound

1993. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological impact of proposals to dual the A47 'Acle Straight'.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 June 2015.

August 2003. Walkover Survey.
Walkover survey of land to be affected by the proposed dualling of the A47 'Acle Striaght'.
Several previously unrecorded earthworks were identified at this site.
An adjacent suspected saltern (NHER 21295) which was to have been evaluated by trial trenching was found to be absent. Anecdotal evidence obtained from local landowners suggested that the feature was not of archaeological interest and had been removed some years earlier. Several previously unrecorded earthworks were identified. A linear feature situated adjacent to a relict channel was interpreted as being a levee which probably began to form whilst the area was still submerged and part of an estuary. On the area becoming dry land in the Saxon period the levee was exposed. Three subrectangular earthworks superimposed on the levee were interpreted as being the remains of structures. Lack of artefactual evidence means they cannot be dated with certainty at this time.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2025.133).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 3 September 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 24 August 2025.

December 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of enclosures, a possible ring ditch and a mound of probable medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S4-S5). The grid reference for these earthworks is TG 4566 0887. Three of the earthworks were identified during a walkover survey carried out by the Norfolk Archaeology Unit in 2003 (S2).

A sub-rectangular enclosure with rounded corners is present at the western end of the group of earthworks. It is defined by a 2.5m wide ditch and measures up to 33m by 26m externally. The internal area comprises a raised platform measuring 28m by 22m. A curvilinear enclosure is located 50m to its east on the levee of a former channel. It is defined by a narrow ditch with an irregular sub-oval plan and measures up to 33m by 18m externally. Both of these enclosures were identified during the walkover survey. A small sub-oval enclosure, with dimensions of 7m by 6m, is located to its northeast. This small enclosure was not observed during the walkover survey and was only recorded from aerial photographs (S5). Two earthworks are present in the eastern part of the group. A sub-oval mound measuring 15m by 8m is located at TG 4581 0886. This feature was identified during the walkover survey. A possible ring ditch earthwork is present 12m to its south at TG 4581 0883. It has a sub-circular plan with a narrow ditch and a diameter of approximately 15m. This feature was not observed during the walkover survey and was only recorded from aerial photographs (S5).

The location of these earthworks, on marshland that developed during the post-Roman period, indicates that they are likely to be of medieval to post medieval date. The rectilinear enclosure in the west of the group is similar to other small enclosures visible as earthworks on the marshland. Information from [1] suggests that these enclosures are probably sheep cotes. They were used to pen sheep overnight so that their manure could be collected. The manure was then transported from the marshes for use as fertiliser on arable fields on the ‘upland’ (S6). It is possible that the enclosures also contained a structure such as a shepherd’s hut. The large sub-oval enclosure does not have any direct parallels in the surrounding marshland. However, it is possible that it is also a stock enclosure. The small sub-oval enclosure may have surrounded a small structure or stack stand. A similar interpretation can be applied to the possible ring ditch identified in the east of the group. The sub-oval mound is of uncertain function, but could be a small Late Saxon to medieval saltern mound or a midden of medieval to post medieval date.
J. Albone (NMP), 06 December 2005