NHER 60771 (Monument record) - Post medieval sluice structure

June 2015.
Post medieval brick and iron structure on the River Babingley, probably dating to the 18th or 19th century. The structure acted as a sluice or flood gate. The structure is discussed and photographed in (S1), where it is suggested that this may be the planned structure referred to on an undated 18th century sketch map in the Norfolk Records Office (HOW 554). The sluice would have allowed water to pass under the seabank at this point and onto the adjacent meadows. Its flow would be stopped at times of high water. The structure is described as being a brick tunnel with an iron plate measuring 0.5 x 0.5 m and 1 cm thick hanging from a chain. The structure was also visited during survey for potential river restoration and reported to the HES by Norfolk Rivers Trust. The stream exiting the river can be seen on (S2) and (S3) here and corresponds to a gap in the sea bank (NHER 36883), as plotted from aerial photographs.
K. Powell (HES), 1 June 2015.