NHER 4697 (Monument record) - Woodcock Hall Iron Age to Roman settlement and Roman forts

Around 1740
(S1) says 'Old stone at ye runne of water between Threxton and Saham – query what it was?'

1847.
Samian Roman sherds found.

Around 1850.
Site of settlement around crossing of Wissey by Peddar’s Way east and southeast of Woodcock Hall from late 1st to 4th century AD. (S2) suggests this was a posting station of the military police.

Around 1850.
Roman coins, pottery, metalwork found. Most of Barton Collection in NCM probably derives from this site. See file for complete list. See also rubbings of decorated Samian sherds (S65)-(S67).

1852. Stray Find.
Incense cup in buff ware.
Roman Samian F37 bowl fragment with medallions containing dolphin, tiger and duck. See sketch (S68).
Donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1949.64 ex T. F. Barton).
See record notes (S60) for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.

1857. North side of Blind or Dark Lane.
Red tiled floor.
2nd century AD cremation in grey ware jar.
Roman coin.

May 1889.
Ornamental Roman key found.

1930 and 1934.
Roman sherds including samian found.
(S4) adds 'and bones'.

1932. North of Wissey.
Red clay tesserae observed.

'For years before' 1936. In bed of River Wissey.
Iron Age Icenian gold coin found.

1938 between 1946. In Ash Planting field.
Two Roman coins found.
See file for details.

1958.
Roman pottery found.

Before 1961.
Roman sherd found.

1965. Field north of Woodcock Hall.
Bank across field, north to south direction, parallel and east of the Peddar’s Way. A drain?

1965. RAF air photography.
Soil-marks seen on RAF aerial photograph.

1965. Found in gardening. Woodcock Hall.
Roman sherds.
See (S4) and details in file.

1965 to 1966. Field west of Woodcock Hall.
Area of surface debris.
Roman sherds.
Brick and tile.
Iron slag.
Glass.
Daub.
Oyster shells.

1967.
Neolithic flint knife found and reported in (S53).

1969. RAF air photographs.
Extensive markings and cropmark of track.

1970. Sewer trench.
Cut a complex of three pits. Contained Iron Age sherds and medieval 13th to 14th century green glazed sherds. Scatter of medieval and Roman finds on surrounding field. Possible medieval brick kiln?
See (S5) for details.

1971. Dredging river.
Produced Roman sherds (including samian), tile, timbers, much metalwork.

1971. Trenching.
Revealed pit and large quantities of Roman sherds (including three complete pots) and metalwork (including ear scoops). Cobbles were recorded here earlier.
See (S6) for details.

1971. Dredging.
16th and 17th century sherds. Roman pot including samian, roofing and flue tiles, iron objects and animal bones. May be the same as dredging recorded above.

1971. From drainage ditch.
Roman sherds.

1971. Dredging.
Roman and medieval sherds, animal bones, timbers and copper alloy and iron objects. These include a copper alloy eagle or swan staff head or cart mount.
See (S7) for details.
See drawings (S24) and rubbing (S76).

1971. Stray Find.
Majors Meadow after ditch cleaning at [8]:
Much coarse pottery observed on surface and in spoil.
Objects recovered included a complete Roman pottery vessel (S59) and a Roman coin.
A large baulk of carbonised timber was also observed, which had a Roman tile lying on it and an animal bone beneath.
The section exposed in the side of the ditch was 2-3" topsoil above c.12" drying peat with large amounts of pottery.
See record notes (S60) for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.

1972. Excavation.
Of Roman timber-lined well.
See (S8) in file.

1972. East bank of Blackwater in Church Meadow.
Lower Palaeolithic Late Acheulean handaxe. See NHER 58789 for further details.

1972. By footbridge in bank of stream.
Found by [6].
Iron Age coin flan mould.
See (S3) and (S9) in file. Listed in (S54) and noted on (S55).

1972. Stray Find.
Along river bank, at and in area of [10]:
Bronze, lead, and deer antler objects. Roman metalwork. Leather shoes and fragments. (S64).
See (S3) and drawings (S64) and (S74)-(S75).

1973.
Roman coin hoard of four gilded bronze coins found.
See (S10) and (S11).

March 1973. Stray Find.
Found "at Roman level" in bank of Wissey Stream in Church Meadow:
1 undated iron horseshoe. See sketch (S62).
Information from notes on drawing - no other record of this object.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.

June 1973. From north bank of stream.
Iron hoop with attached bronze sheet.
See (S3).

1974. Stray Find.
Objects recovered by [6] at various location.
Found in Wissey dredgings at [12]:
Iron Age copper alloy ring-headed pin. See drawing (S72).
On loan to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : L1974.24).

Found in Woodcock Meadow (centred [13]):
Roman figurine of a deer, see drawing (S48), listed in (S52) and noted on (S55).

Found in Three Pits Field (centred [14]):
'Lead object' (marked on NCM map).

Found on surface at [15]:
Roman brooch.

Found at [16]:
'Large Roman coin' (marked on NCM map).
Information from record notes (S60).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.

1975. Stray Find.
Found in dredgings at [11]:
Iron Age beaked and gilded brooch. See drawings (S69)-(71)
On loan to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : L1975.19).
Information from record notes (S60).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.

1975.
Two Roman coins, Roman sherds and puddingstone quern found.
See (S3).

1976. Found with metal detector.
Two Iron Age coins, brooch.
See (S3) for details.

1976.
Roman sherds including samian.

1976. Found with metal detector.
Tip of Late Bronze Age spearhead.
See (S3).

1976.
Silver ring with gold inset plate with cameo of Mercury, late 2nd century AD.
See (S3) and (S12).
Counterfeit silver-on-bronze coin of Nero.
See (S13).

January 1976.
Roman sherds 3rd to 4th century.

May 1976. Stray Find.
Found in Three Pits Field:
Undated unidentified copper alloy object. See drawing (S73).
Information from notes on drawing - no other record of this object?
P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.

October 1976.
Five Iron Age coins.
See (S3) and details in file.

1977. Found with metal detector.
Two Iron Age silver coins.
See (S3).

January 1977. Found on ploughed surface.
Handle/rim sherd of jug or costrel.

Some weeks before 12 December 1977. Dredging.
Iron Age and Roman brooches and coins.
See (S3).

1977 to 1978.
'Tank' marked by the Ordnance Survey reported as an ancient structure of stone slabs fed by underground springs. Visited by E. Rose (NAU) 19 April 1978. The 'tank' is buried and visible as a depression in the pasture with an iron railing around it.

1978. Found with metal-detector in dredging.
Late Saxon circular bronze disc brooch, Borre style with interlace decoration (NWHCM: L1979.3). See Thesis (S77).
Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 20 January 2020.

1978. Found with metal detector.
Bronze finger ring with intaglio with a 4th century style bust.
See (S3) and details in file.

Spring 1978. Metal-detecting.
Found in dredgings at [9]:
Medieval dagger or scabbard hilt mount decorated with convoluted animals. See drawing (S61).
See record notes (S60) for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.
See (S3) and (S9).

June 1978.
Bout-coupee handaxe. Lower Palaeolithic. See NHER 58789 for further details.

Spring 1979. Found with metal detector.
Iron Age brooch and chape.
See (S3).

1980. Air photograph.
Cropmark indicating possible Roman marching camp.

October 1980.
Bronze statuette of Minerva 'in centre of settlement site'. 2nd to 3rd century AD.
See (S14).

1981. In hole in riverbank.
Palaeolithic handaxe. See NHER 58789 for further details.

1981.
Fragment of Roman glass vessel.

June 1981. Fieldwalking.
Found at [7]:
1 Roman mortaria sherd with REGALIS stamp. Probably from Ellingham kiln.
Identified by K. F. Hartley. See rubbing (S56).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2018.

1982. Fieldwalking.
Roman sherd with graffito.
See (S3).

1982? Fieldwalking.
Iron Age Icenian coin.
See file for details and (S3).

1983 or before.
Possible Bronze crest from statuette helmet. See (S3).
Rare 13th century Limoges type buckle plate found. See (S15) and drawings (S57) and (S58).

28 July 1983. NAU air photograph.
Positive cropmarks of moat.

3 January 1984. Metal detecting.
Reports of a dozen silver denarii and a gold stater found.

1984.
Gold finger ring of late Roman, 4th century type possibly found.
See NHER 20035.

3 January 1987. Metal detecting.
Iron Age Iceni silver coin, eight Roman bronze coins, one silver Roman coin and half a Roman bronze tweezers may have been found.

Winter 1988 to 1989. Metal detecting.
Unusual Roman double-headed brooch.
See photograph (S9) and drawing (S25).
One of several multiple-bow brooch from Norfolk described in (S63).

1989. Probable metal detecting.
From hole excavated by police. Probably metal detecting. Roman sherds, animal bones and Roman tile.

1990. NLA air photograph.
Rectilinear cropmarks. ?trackways.

1 April 1993. Metal detecting.
Roman coins, hairpins, jettons. Medieval/post medieval metalwork.
See list and (S3) in file.

1994. Foundation trench.
Roman sherds including the base/footing of a platter imitating Gallo-Belgic types.

10 April 1995. Metal detecting.
Roman coin.
See details in file.

25 July 1996. NLA air photography.
Northeast defences showing as cropmarks. Several areas of cropmarks are visible to the south, separated from the fort by the road and river. A parched linear flanked by a ditch to the west runs southeast to northwest towards the river at approximately location [1]. This may be a stretch of Roman road. It is not clear what its relationship is to the road which enters the fort. To the west of this linear are fragments of rectilinear enclosures, which are partially visible.
S. Massey (NLA) 22 November 2001.

7 August 1996. NLA air photography.
Photograph taken of fort site and surrounding area.
The southern fort defences can be seen as very faint cropmarks.
S. Massey (NLA), 8 November 2001.

October 1998. Metal detecting finds.
Roman and one medieval coins. Roman, medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See details and (S3) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 4 December 1998.

16 June 1999. NLA air photography.
Northeast corner of fort defences showing well as cropmarks. The southern set of ditches can also be seen, although they are not as clear. Other cropmarks elements can be seen to the southeast extent of the site. Traces of ditches are visible, possibly relating to an enclosure, although they are not clear enough to offer any definite interpretation.
S. Massey (NLA), 2 November 2001.

November 1999. Metal detecting. [3].
Three Iron Age coins.
Roman, medieval and post medieval coins.
Bronze Age copper alloy spearhead fragment (S26).
Iron Age terret.
Roman brooch.
Medieval brooch.
See lists, (S3) and (S4) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 5 February 2000.

Before 4 April 2000. Metal detecting in two areas (Cottage and Three Pits field) outside scheduled area. [4].
Iron Age and Roman coins, medieval and post medieval coins.
Iron Age, Roman, Early Saxon, medieval, post medieval and undatable metal finds.
Roman and post medieval sherds.
See lists in file with grid references of areas.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 30 May 2000.

Found before 4 April 2000, Three Pits Field.
Three Roman silver finger ring fragments, disclaimed as treasure.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 1 September 2000.

April 2000. Metal detecting.
Roman coins.
Iron Age, Roman and medieval metal objects.
See lists in file with grid reference of areas.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 1 September 2001.

Various finds recovered during metal-detecting west of the Scheduled area (at [5]) between 2001 and 2004 are now recorded under NHER 67997.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 February 2024.

(S17) suggests the presence of a Claudian fort to the south of the stream. The number of mid 1st century military finds recovered from a small plateau suggests this is this early fort was built to guard the river crossing.
M. Dennis (NLA) 9 May 2006.

Before 9 November 2006. Metal detecting.
Thirty-six Iron Age, ninety-three Roman, eight medieval and five post medieval coins.
Bronze Age (S45), Late Bronze Age (S46) (S47), Iron Age, Roman, Early Saxon, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 1 February 2007.

February 2007.
Scheduled monument consent granted concerning the reposition of an overhead line.
See (S18)
H. White (NLA), 6 April 2009

September 2007.
Section 17 management agreement renewed. See (S19).
D. Robertson (NLA), 17 October 2007.

October 2007. Watching Brief.
Contexts 1-16 used.
Excavation limited to pole and stay holes for the replacement of electricity poles within fields north and east of Woodcock Hall. No archaeological features were observed due to restricted nature of the intervention.
18 sherds of Romano-British coarse ware pottery were recovered, dating to between the late 1st and 2nd centuries, along with one fragment of undated roof tile.
Human skeletal remains were recovered, which may represent an in-situ inhumation, associated with one fragment of Romano-British pottery.
For report (S20) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2016.57).
E. Bales (NLA), 22 May 2008. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 April 2019.

September 2008. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site at Watton Sewage Treatment Works. From context 20.
The excavation revealed Roman features and finds indicating settlement dating to between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD. The material recovered indicates a substantial structure was located within the vicinity included a hypocaust or bath-house, although the proximity of the river could suggest that the latter is more likely. The size and type of the Roman tiles and ceramic building material recovered suggest that presence of two different buildings or at least a single building with two phases of construction. A small quantity of Saxon and medieval pottery was also recovered which could indicate activity during these periods or could have been introduced by other means including manuring.
See report (S22) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S23).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.81 and NWHCM : 2017.494).
S. Howard (HES), 17 August 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 April 2019.

Before 3 June 2009. Metal detecting.
7 Iron Age, 185 Roman and 3 post-medieval coins, 1 post-medieval token and 3 jettons, hoard consisting of copper alloy cauldron containing pewter vessels and large numbers of iron objects.
See lists, drawings (S50) and (S51) and X-ray in file.
A. Rogerson, (NLA), 1 December 2009.

Before 4 December 2009. Metal detecting.
Iron Age/Roman terret, Iron Age coin and 6 Roman coins,
See list in file,
A. Rogerson, (NLA), 2 February 2010.

January 2010.
Section 17 management agreement renewed.
See (S21).
D. Robertson (NLA), 2 February 2010.