NHER 43485 (Monument record) - Possible medieval to post medieval sheep fold east of Ashtree Farm

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Summary

A small rectangular enclosure, visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, may represent the remains of a sheep fold of medieval or post medieval date. A number of small enclosures of this type have been identified in this area of Halvergate Marshes; compare, for example, NHER 43483 located 370m to the northeast. Given the use of this area as grazing marsh throughout much of the medieval and post medieval periods, an association with livestock seems likely. They were perhaps used to pen sheep overnight, to allow their manure to be collected and used elsewhere. Aerial photographs of the site taken in 1989 demonstrate that it has now been levelled.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TG50NW
Civil Parish	GREAT YARMOUTH, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

April 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Three sides of a small, sub-rectangular enclosure are visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred at TG 5073 0933. The fourth, northeastern side of the enclosure, if it ever existed, was either formed by or truncated by a linear drain depicted on historic Ordnance Survey maps (see (S3)), which was still in use in 1955 (S2). Like similar enclosures identified elsewhere on this area of former marshland, the interpretation of the site as a sheep fold of medieval or post medieval date seems plausible. It was perhaps associated with the deliberate collection of manure for use on the surrounding uplands, as described in (S4). Aerial photographs of the site taken in 1989 (S5) demonstrate that it has now been levelled.

The enclosure is roughly rectangular in shape and measures approximately 16m by 8.5m.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 5 April 2006.

Associated Sources (5)

<S1> SNF57402 Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1944. RAF HLA/694 4103-4 26-MAR-1944 (NMR).
<S2> SNF57429 Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1955. RAF 58/1674 (F22) 0332-3 04-MAR-1955 (NMR).
<S3> SNF53293 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1884-1891. Ordnance Survey Map. Six inches to the mile. First Edition. 1:10,560.
<S4> SNF52439 Monograph: Williamson, T.. 1997. The Norfolk Broads: A Landscape History.. p 46.
<S5> SNF57404 Vertical Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1989. OS/89047 331-2 18-MAR-1989 (NMR).

Site and Feature Types and Periods (8)

Object Types (0)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Aug 17 2016 12:02PM