NHER 54489 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Former earthworks of paths and boundaries within Costessey Park

September 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks and parchmarks of former paths and boundaries are visible on aerial photographs within Costessey Park (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 1628 1135. A number of other paths and former boundaries were omitted from the mapping, in particular within the western part of the site, as they were depicted on the Ordnance Survey First edition (1889 -1891, 6 inch) (S5) – no earlier historic maps were available at the time of the recording. The most substantial component of the site is a curving path or hollow way (S3) cut into the side of the slope to the north of the Hall ruins (NHER 7913) and to the immediate south of Park House (NHER 12394), which is either a medieval predecessor to the Hall or dower house associated with it. It is feasible that this route or hollow way relates to a medieval layout associated with an earlier house. See record NHER 54488 for details of nearby former earthworks of possible medieval date. Two parallel bank and ditch boundaries recorded to the south of the site (S1-S2) may represent the remains of former boundaries within the Park or feasible pre-date the establishment its establishment. More recent photography of the Park (S6) would suggest that the establishment of a golf course on the site has removed many, if not all, of the earthworks, although a field visit would be needed to establish this for certain.
S. Horlock (NMP), 07 September 2010.