NHER 52065 (Monument record) - Possible pair of ring ditches

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of two possible ring ditches of unknown date and function may be visible on aerial photographs (S1) one the former site of Gowthorpe medieval village (NHER 52069). The site is centred on TG 2112 0212. The archaeological significance of these cropmarks is uncertain and it is possible that the marks are derived from relatively recent agricultural activity, as they appear to in part overlie the cropmarks of a medieval to post medieval bank (NHER 9750). This bank forms part of a pair of banks and/or banked enclosure that appears to enclose a channel and pond depicted on the 1847 Swardeston Tithe map (S2). It is possible that this feature relates to possible use of this general vicinity for brick making (see 52066 for discussion). To the east of the chapel are possible banked enclosure (or pair of banked boundaries) was mapped. These broadly follow the same alignment as the ditches recorded to the west of the chapel. It is therefore possible that these could also relate to the medieval settlement (NHER 52069). These banks have previously been interpreted as represent the remains of the moot or meeting place of the Humbleyard Hundred, see NHER 9750 for discussion, due to the banks previously being attributed to the moot site.

The western ring ditch is 10.5m in diameter and the eastern one is 6m. Both have a break in the ditch within the northeastern arc of the ring. Aerial photographs from 1942 (S3) would indicate that these boundaries were still in use in the early 1940s. Given that the ring ditch cropmarks would appear to overlay the bank cropmarks this would suggest that these ring ditches are the result of relatively recent agricultural activity. The remnants of vehicle marks are visible on the edge of the field nearest to these marks and therefore it is possible that these marks are relate to vehicle turning circles or similar temporary features. However the possibility remains that they do relate to actual archaeological features. Given the size it is feasible that they represent the remains of later prehistoric or Roman date roundhouses. A Roman coin was recovered during renovations at Gowthorpe Manor approximately 380m to the northwest (NHER 9716). The cropmarks of possible enclosures, feasibly of pre-medieval date, have been created to the immediate south of these ring ditches (NHER 52070). Although again the archaeological significance of these features is uncertain, see record for details.
S. Horlock (NMP), 30 April 2009.