NHER 43755 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks of a possible medieval to post medieval enclosure

June 2006. Norfolk NMP
Earthworks of ditches, possibly defining a trapezoidal enclosure of medieval to post medieval date, are visible on aerial photographs (S1). These earthworks are centred on TM 3112 9250 and lie immediately to the north of Willow Farm at Hedenham. Two L-shaped sections of ditch earthwork are present apparently forming opposite corners of a trapezoidal enclosure with internal dimensions of 61m by 59m. The ditches are up to 2.5m wide and are only visible in the northwest and southeast corners. The northeastern part of the enclosure is overlain by a large rectangular pond called Scotfer Pond. This pond is marked on the 1839 tithe map for Hedenham (S2) but the ditches are not. It is possible the ditches are part of a drainage system associated with the pond or that they formed an enclosure at its southwestern end. The ditches are probably too narrow for this to be considered as a possible moat. It is likely that these earthworks are of medieval to post medieval date and that they relate to Willow Farm, which has a 16th century farmhouse (NHER 19470). Earthworks of probable field boundaries of medieval to post medieval date are recorded to the north of the farm (NHER 43754). Part of the earthworks have subsequently been built over.
J. Albone (NMP), 12 June 2006