NHER 65117 (Monument record) - Undated ditches and pits

July 2014. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of Weston Park Golf Club ahead of its proposed expansion and improvement.
This study concluded that there was a moderate to high potential for archaeologically-significant remains within the proposed development area. It was also deemed likely that any remains present would be in a good state of preservation.
No archaeological or historical features of interest were noted during a brief site visit.
See report (S1) for further details, including a summary of the documentary and cartographic sources that document the development of Weston Park, which was established soon after the construction of Weston Hall in the late 18th century.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 June 2021.

June 2015. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land to south of Morton Plantation (Field 7).
This survey identified four positive linear anomalies that are likely to represent archaeologically-significant features; three of which correspond with previously-recorded cropmarks (part of a multi-period group recorded as NHER 50654). There was however no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with cropmarks thought to represent a ring-ditch and a small rectangular enclosure (NHERs 50653 and 50652 respectively). A number of other linear positive and negative anomalies were probably the result of changes in the underlying superficial geology.
A number of discrete positive anomalies potentially represented infilled pits, although a geological origin for these responses was also possible.
A large area of magnetic disturbance at the north-eastern end of the field had been caused by a nearby electricity pylon. Numerous isolated dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material in the topsoil (most likely modern debris). Areas of magnetic disturbance around the periphery of the site were primarily the result of the 2m high ferrous deer fences running along the field boundaries.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 June 2021.

February-March 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land to south of Morton Plantation (Field 6; Trenches 65-73 and 79-80).
The 11 trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of ditches and a small number of possible pits. Unfortunately these features produced little in the way of dating evidence, with finds limited to a small number of prehistoric worked flints and a single medieval pottery sherd.
Several of the ditches clearly corresponded with linear cropmarks recorded at this location (part of a multi-period group recorded as NHER 50654). There was however no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with cropmarks that appeared to represent a possible ring-ditch (NHER 50653) and a small rectangular enclosure (NHER 50652).
The medieval pottery sherd was recovered from a north-east to south-west aligned ditch in the north-east corner of the site.
The discrete features investigated appear to have been mostly fairly unremarkable, with the majority regarded as natural in origin.
Unstratified finds were limited to a small number of prehistoric worked flints, a medieval/post-medieval whittle-tang knife and roof tile fragment and a small number of post-medieval and undated metal objects.
See report (S3) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has now been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.384).
P. Watkins (HES), 25 June 2021.