NHER 57986 (Monument record) - Site of possible medieval moat and/or enclosure

August 2012.
The site of a possible medieval moated site and/or enclosure site may be visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 2536 2338. The site consists of a broad L-shaped moat-like ditch, up to 10m across, that is visible as a combination of cropmarks, soilmarks and earthworks on (S1-S2). Only two sides of the possible moat are visible, suggesting original dimensions of at least 75m across. The lack of obvious water supply to this site, would suggest that it unlikely to have been water-filled. The ditches either abut or are bisected by two modern roads, although it is feasible that the other sides of the possible moat lay alongside earlier and narrower courses of these roads and are consequently masked by the modern roads and verges. Two ditches, likely to be the remains of former field boundaries or boundaries associated with the moat and/or enclosure have been included within the site.
It has been suggested that a medieval manorial site is located in close proximity to this site, within the western part of the airfield (S3). However this is based on map evidence of the 1828 Enclosure map which includes the text ‘Scite of the Manor of Scottow and Little Hautbois’ in a field adjacent to this site. This appears to have been taken to mean that the original manorial building was located at this approximate location. However this phrase is repeated within another land parcel to the east, both blocks of land are held by the Bishop of Norwich (S4). It therefore seems most likely that this just refers to the classification of the Bishops lands, rather than the location of a manorial building. If this moat-like site visible on the aerial photographs does represent the remains of a manorial site it is likely to relate to that of Lamas, as it sits on the eastern edge of this settlement. Although the church (NHER 7659) and Lamas Hall, a seventeenth century hall (NHER 7627), are both located further to the west within the main village. It is worth noting that Saxon and medieval date finds have been located in the same field as the possible moat (NHER 25614), which could suggest an earlier focus for the settlement in this area, away from the current village.
S. Horlock (HES), 30 August 2012.