NHER 64584 (Monument record) - Post-medieval and undated ditch and disturbance associated with site of Royal Observer Corp post

November 2015. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 5 May 2023.

August 2017-March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of possible development area.
A linear positive anomaly corresponds with a former field boundary shown on the Stratton St Mary tithe map (S2).
The only other response of interest was a high amplitude anomaly adjacent to Hall Lane at TM 2016 9211 that may represent the location of a Royal Observer Corps (ROC) post known to have been operational somewhere close to this location between 1959 and 1968 (NHER 35390).
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 May 2021.

August-November 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed route of A140 Long Stratton Bypass (Trenches 24-29).
The six trenches excavated at this location revealed only three ditches. These included a substantial north-west to south-east aligned feature which had been identified by the preceding geophysical survey and corresponded with a former field boundary depicted on the Stratton St Mary tithe map (S2). A single sherd of presumably residual early medieval pottery was the only find recovered. Two north-to-south aligned ditches exposed in two adjacent trenches to the south probably represent elements of the same feature. No dating evidence was recovered from these ditches, with finds limited to a small quantity of animal bone.
The large geophysical anomaly identified close to Hall Lane was shown to be a substantial pit that had been backfilled with redeposited natural clay. This material was overlain by a layer of rotted timbers, which according to the landowner represented the remains of a wooden platform associated with the Royal Observer Corp post.
See report (S4) for further information and NHER 68109 for details of various unstratified finds recovered during this work (for which the report gives no locational information).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2021.2).
P. Watkins (HES), 20 February 2024. Amended 24 August 2025.

October 2021. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of geotechnical investigation undertaken prior to construction of A140 Long Stratton bypass, the aim of which was to confirm the location and condition of the bunker associated with the ROC post adjacent to Hall Lane (NHER 35390).
This work confirmed that the large feature recorded during the trial trenching was indeed the construction cut for the ROC bunker, the roof of which was sealed by the compacted clay deposit.
Information from draft report. See NHER 35390 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 August 2024.