NHER 65197 (Monument record) - Undated and post-medieval ditches and undated probable quarry pits

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Summary

A geophysical survey of this site in 2019/2020 identified a number of linear anomalies, three of which correspond with a former trackway or road and a former field boundary shown on 19th-century maps. A band of discrete anomalies were also regarded as potentially archaeologically significant. Subsequent trial trenching in 2020 demonstrated that these were associated with a series of large quarry pits, although unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered from these features. A number of ditches were also identified, the majority of which corresponded with geophysical anomalies. These also produced no finds.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG11SW
Civil Parish HONINGHAM, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Map

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F18).
This survey identified a number of linear anomalies, including two adjacent north-to-south aligned responses that coincide with the line of a former road or trackway shown on the Honingham tithe map (S1). An east-to-west aligned linear anomaly to the west corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on this map. A group of parallel north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear trends are of a more uncertain nature.
A band of discrete patches of magnetic disturbance are seen as possibly of archaeology interest, potentially representing pit-type features rather than variations in the underlying geology. A single, larger area of magnetic disturbance is interpreted as a probable infilled quarry pit.
A dipolar linear at the western end of the site is a modern service that had also been detected in the fields to the north and south.
Scattered discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material in the topsoil (most likely modern debris).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 July 2021.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area 24; Trenches 266-271).
The six trenches excavated at this location all revealed archaeologically-significant remains, although unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered.
All of the linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey were found to be associated with ditches, including those flanking the line of the late post-medieval road or trackway (for which there was no other surviving evidence) and the north-north-east to south-south-west aligned trends to the west. The two ditches that hadn't been identified by the geophysical survey were also aligned north-north-east to south-south-west.
The discrete anomalies investigated were all shown to correspond with large probably quarry pits, several of which appeared to be considerably largely than the extents suggested by the geophysical anomalies.
See report (S2) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.131).
P. Watkins (HES), 29 July 2021. Amended 8 December 2022.

  • <S1> Map: Drane, W. 1839. Honingham Tithe map.
  • <S2> Unpublished Contractor Report: Morgan-Shelbourne, L., House, J. and Crawley, P. 2020. A47 North Tuddenham to Easton. Archaeological Evaluation. Pre-Construct Archaeology. R14273.

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Record last edited

Sep 29 2025 12:28PM

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