NHER 44908 (Monument record) - Earthworks and soilmarks of probable post medieval drainage ditches and enclosure

August 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks and soilmarks of a series of probable post medieval drainage ditches and boundaries are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Aldeby House (S1-S2). The site is centred on TM 4536 9451 and is located on boulder clay. A rectilinear ‘moated’ enclosure is possible visible, although it seems most likely that this is a stock enclosure or similar agricultural feature.

The main component of the site is a rectilinear arrangement of drainage ditches, centred on TM 4531 9455 and measuring approximately 100m by 55m. The ditches are quite irregular in plan and vary in width from 3-7m. It is possible, given the width of the ditches, that this represented a former moated enclosure of some sort, perhaps surrounding a structure or garden feature. It seems unlikely that the seventeenth century Aldeby house (NHER 13348), to the immediate south, was of sufficient grandeur of have had moated gardens attached, however it is possible. The presence of a pond within the ‘moated’ area would imply that a structure did not exist within the enclosed area. It therefore seems most likely that this broad ditched enclosure was created for agricultural reasons, possibly stock management. The apparent vast width of the ditches could also be a product of the spreading of the sub-surface ditch/drain material by the plough, giving the soilmark a width unrepresentative of the original feature.

Several parallel drains cut across this rectilinear arrangement of ditches and continue to the east, curving around to join a partially double ditched boundary that runs towards Church Road to the south. This joins with a curvilinear trackway seemingly leading to Aldeby House Farm and Justice Green.
S. Massey (NMP), 16 August 2006.