NHER 49238 (Monument record) - Possible Saxon/medieval saltern mounds

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of possible late Saxon to medieval salterns are visible on aerial photographs within Chedgrave Marshes (S1). The site is centred on TG 4575 0230. These mounds are located within the area of the former tidal estuary and it is possible that these represent mounds of salt production waste. It is possible that a tidal creek fed the saltworks, as this part of the former estuary would have been silted up by the medieval period.

The mounds are fairly sub-circular or amorphous in shape and vary in size, up to 40m across. The shape of these mounds is reminiscent of those mounds of salt production waste recorded within the Wash, although these Chedgrave examples are much smaller in size. A note of caution must be attached to this interpretation as on some later aerial photographs the mounds have a more natural appearance, in particular the larger and more elongated example which may be the levee of a natural creek. However the other two, rounded mounds cannot be explained in relation to this creek.
S. Massey (NMP), 23 October 2006.