NHER 65428 (Monument record) - Multi-period remains, including Late Iron Age enclosure, possible Early Saxon structures and Late Saxon to medieval settlement

April 2010. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed route of new water pipeline along eastern edge of site (Middleton Quarry Main Replacement).
The five trenches excavated revealed a number of ditches, many of which corresponded with previously identified cropmarks (all part of a group of probable enclosures, field boundaries and a former road recorded as NHER 50836). Dating evidence was very limited but it is likely that the majority of these features were associated with Late Saxon to post-medieval phases of activity. There was though some limited evidence for earlier activity, with a Roman tegula fragment and a small number of Roman and Early Saxon pottery sherds recovered from the excavated features. The tegula fragment was found in an otherwise undated ditch in the northernmost trench but all of the Roman and Early Saxon pottery came from a trench to the south that had been placed to investigate the north-west to south-east cropmarks thought to represent the line of a post-medieval or earlier road shown on Faden's map of 1797 (S1). This trench revealed a number of features, although the exact nature and extent of these remains proved difficult to determine, partly due to the presence of what appeared to be redeposited natural deposits. Several of these features were interpreted as extraction pits of medieval or later date and it is likely that the Roman pottery sherds were all residual within later contexts. Single sherds of Early Saxon pottery were though recovered from adjacent pits or ditches that both contained reasonably large assemblages of butchered animal bone (and no later finds). Other finds from these features included iron smelting slag, lava quern fragments and several pieces of fired clay (tentatively identified as Roman briquetage). A sample from taken from the fill of one produced a small assemblage of material likely to represent heath waste, including charred cereal grain, burnt bone fragments and charcoal. There was no evidence that could be directly associated with the later road, although presumably its presence (and subsequent removal) could account for some of the disturbance seen in this trench.
The only other finds recovered came from ditches in the northernmost trench – one of which contained a Late Saxon pottery sherd and another a single medieval sherd. One of these ditches is though likely to correspond with a former field boundary shown at this location on the East Winch tithe map (S2).
No unstratified finds were recovered.
See report (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
An archive associated with this work is believed to have been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2010.101) [1].
Previously recorded under NHER 50836.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 7 April 2024.

May-June 2010. Excavation.
Excavation of route of new water pipeline along eastern and southern margins of site (Middleton Quarry Main Replacement).
The narrow trench excavated revealed numerous linear and discrete features, although as during the preceding evaluation the majority produced little or dating evidence. There was again some limited evidence for Roman and Early Saxon activity, although it is likely that the bulk of the excavated remains were associated with Late Saxon to medieval phases of activity.
A single sherd of Late Iron Age or early Roman pottery was recovered, along with 58 Roman sherds and a single Roman tile fragment (with the remains of a signature mark on one surface). The bulk of this material was though either unstratified or likely to be residual within later features. The small number of features that could be tentatively identified as potentially Roman included a north-to-south aligned ditch that contained two Roman pottery sherds (and had also produced a Roman tile fragment during the preceding evaluation) and a pit containing a single large sherd of Roman pottery and a large assemblage of iron smelting slag. It is thought likely that iron smelting slag recovered elsewhere on the site was also waste from Roman-period activity.
Two adjacent possible Early Saxon grubenhauser (sunken-feature buildings) were also uncovered, close to (and in at least one case directly associated with) the potentially Early Saxon remains recorded during the evaluation. These flat-based features contained a number of Early Saxon objects, including pottery sherds, a well-fired annular loomweight and a double-sided bone comb, along with a Roman tile fragment, pieces of lava quern, a hone stone, iron slag and a relatively large amount of animal bone. Samples taken from these features were though found to contain little in the way of charred plant macrofossils or other remains.
The bulk of the pottery recovered during this work is of Late Saxon to medieval date, with Late Saxon and Saxo-Norman wares making up a significant proportion of the assemblage. There are though only a limited number of features that can be tentatively assigned can be assigned to specific phases within this broad period of activity, the majority of which are ditches (including several that correspond with cropmarks that are part of the group recorded as NHER 50836). Notable exceptions included an oven or kiln with a circular, clay-lined chamber and an adjacent probable stoke pit. The fills of this feature contained a small assemblage of Late Saxon pottery, along with a single medieval sherd and a most likely intrusive post-medieval roof tile fragment. A poorly-preserved feature close to the southern edge of the site was potentially the remains of a similar oven or kiln. No dating evidence was recovered from this truncated feature, although it is thought that several sherds of Late Saxon pottery recovered from the overlying subsoil may have been derived form its fills. Unfortunately samples taken from these features produced nothing that might indicate their function.
There is evidence that activity at this location had significantly declined by the end of the 13th century, with only small quantities of late medieval to early post-medieval and later post-medieval pottery recovered – the bulk from unstratified contexts. The small number of post-medieval features identified included an east-to-west aligned ditch that contained several post-medieval pottery sherds and a post-medieval roof tile fragment.
There was again no evidence for surviving remains associated with the former road thought to be represented by a group of north-west to south-east aligned cropmarks.
Unstratified finds recovered from topsoil and subsoil deposits include prehistoric flint flakes; Roman, Early Saxon, Late Saxon, Saxo-Norman, medieval, medieval/post-medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds; medieval and post-medieval roof tile fragments; pieces of Roman to medieval lava quern; fragments of animal bone; iron smelting slag; Roman coins (one pierced) and a range of other, undated and Early Saxon to post-medieval metal objects. These metal finds include undated lead pot mends and lead spindle whorls or weights; an Early Saxon buckle; a potentially Middle Saxon iron pin; a Late Saxon hooked tag; a medieval annular brooch, iron buckle and iron horseshoe nail; a medieval/post-medieval possible box, casket or book mount and copper alloy vessel fragment and a post-medieval quatrefoil mount and seed-drill cup.
See report (S5) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
An archive associated with this work is believed to have been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.438). [1].
P. Watkins (HES), 8 April 2024.

November-December 2011 and May 2012. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed mineral extraction area comprising all of western field (Fields B and C) and southern half of eastern field (Field D).
This survey identified various potentially archaeologically-significant linear anomalies, many of which correspond with the various cropmarks features of probable Late Saxon to medieval date previously mapped at this location (all recorded under NHER 50836).
This survey suggests that the majority of the cropmarks are associated with surviving subsurface remains and in a number of cases the geophysical anomalies demonstrated the continuation of particular features beyond the limits of the cropmarks. A notable example of this was two adjacent, parallel anomalies in the western field, which significantly extended the lines of a pair of parallel cropmarks at TF 6870 1664. These features are likely to represent a double-ditched trackway, the line of which appears to merges with that of a series of cropmarks to the east thought to be traces of a former road shown on Faden's map of 1797 (S1). The geophysical survey also identified a number of enclosures and field boundaries that had most not been visible as cropmarks. Of particular interest is a sub-square, rhomboidal enclosure at TF 6875 1655, only the eastern side of which had been recognisable as a cropmark. This enclosure measures approximately 72m by 67m and has east-to-west aligned north and south sides and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned western and eastern sides. A small possible annex lies adjacent to its western side.
In the northern half of the western field the survey identified what appeared to be elements of two adjacent rectilinear enclosures and a number of associated field boundaries. These were potentially associated with a group of enclosures of probable medieval date visible as earthworks immediately to the west (NHER 50835), close to where subsequent trial trenching would uncovered evidence for medieval activity (see NHER 65427). A series of positive area anomalies within the southernmost of these possible enclosures may be the result of past quarrying. Faint possible traces of ridge and cultivation were noted in the area to the east of the enclosures.
At the southern end of the western field a strong, straight north-north-west to south-south-east aligned anomaly extending from the Lynn Road and a number of perpendicular features are more likely to represent later, post-medieval boundaries – particularly as one of the latter corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the East Winch tithe map (S2). It is possible that the main, north-north-west to south-south-east aligned0 anomaly represents the line of another trackway.
A group of fragmentary linear anomalies recorded at the southern end of the eastern field broadly matches the arrangement of the cropmarks at this location, with a pair of curvi-linear anomalies and an overlapping group of straighter north-to-south and east-to-west aligned responses likely to represent elements of two distinct field systems. Various fragmentary linear anomalies recorded further north in this field also broadly correspond with the available cropmark evidence. These include a group of north-west to south-east aligned linear responses that correspond with the cropmarks thought to represent the line of the former road. A series of positive area anomalies were recorded in the area to the north of the road, in an area where a scatter of iron slag was noted on the field surface.
Other responses of note include a possible ring-ditch in the western field at TF 6877 1663, which has a diameter of approximately 22m and a possible gap or entrance to the north-east. A pair of opposing curvilinear anomalies in the eastern field at TF 6912 1664 may also represent the remains of a ring-ditch or small circular enclosure, although this interpretation is much more tentative.
A number of strong bipolar anomalies at TF 6889 1657 coincide with the known location of a World War Two searchlight battery and machine gun post (NHER 50846) and may therefore represent remains or areas of disturbance associated with these installations.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2013.85).
P. Watkins (HES), 28 February 2022.

February-March 2012. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed mineral extraction (Area B; Trenches 53-92).
This phase of work saw the excavation of 40 trenches in the southern half of the western field. These revealed numerous ditches and other features, many of which corresponded with the previously identified geophysical anomalies and cropmarks (all of the latter part of the group recorded as NHER 50836). Although many of these features produced few finds it is clear these remains were associated with multiple phases of past activity.
Three trenches positioned to investigates the large sub-square enclosure identified by the geophysical survey uncovered ditches associated with its western, southern and eastern sides. One of these ditches was found to contain 22 sherds of handmade later Iron Age pottery and a sherd of similar pottery was also recovered from another of the excavated slots, along with a single Roman sherd. Further Iron Age pottery was recovered from a ditch running parallel to the eastern side of the enclosure, suggesting that at least some of the surrounding ditches may relate to this phase of activity. Several other ditches did contain Iron Age or Roman pottery, although in all cases these were only single sherds and therefore quite possibly residual.
It is likely that many of the features uncovered towards the southern end of the field were associated with Late Saxon to medieval phases of activity. Although a small number of Middle Saxon pottery sherds were recovered these were mostly either unstratified or found alongside later material. A much larger assemblage of Late Saxon pottery was recovered and there were many features that could be at least tentatively dated to this period of activity. Significantly, these included several groups of potentially structural remains, one of which comprised a 'U'-shaped arrangement of possible beamslots and a number of post-holes. Features of probable Late Saxon date uncovered in a nearby trench included a possible grubenhaus (sunken feature building) and another possible beamslot that was also associated with several post-holes. Another trench exposed a second possible grubenhaus and a number of potentially associated post-holes. A group of pits in this part of the site contained a mix of Late Saxon and early medieval pottery, indicating activity had likely continued at this location into the latter stages of the 11th century, if not beyond. A number of the ditches uncovered in this part of the site also contained Late Saxon pottery and no later finds. These included various north-north-west to south-south-east and east-north-east to west-south-west aligned features, several of which had been identified by the preceding geophysical survey. It should though be noted that in all cases the quantities of pottery recovered were very small and it is possible that at least some of this material was residual within later features.
Several adjacent north-to-south aligned ditches uncovered close to the eastern edge of the field coincided with a substantial cropmark that appeared to form the western boundary of a large enclosure. Two of these ditches contained Middle Saxon and Late Saxon pottery, while a third contained a small assemblage of medieval pottery – making it the only ditch in this part of the site that could be dated to the medieval period with any degree of confidence. As elsewhere on the site activity appears to have declined markedly during the high medieval period, with comparatively few finds of late medieval to early post-medieval or post-medieval date recovered. The small number of features of possible post-medieval date included a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch in the central part of the field that contained post-medieval tile fragments. A possible post-medieval tile fragment was also recovered from an otherwise undated pit at the southern end of the field and a curving linear feature in the same area was found to contain a fragment of post-medieval window glass and a piece of lead shot.
One of the trenches was positioned to investigated a discrete geophysical anomaly that coincided with the site of the World War Two searchlight battery (NHER 50846). No associated remains were uncovered.
As in the field to the west a wide variety of unstratified finds were recovered during the excavation of these trenches. These included Mesolithic/Early Neolithic, Early Neolithic, Neolithic, Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, ?Early Bronze Age and undatable prehistoric worked flints; a small number of undatable burnt flints; later Iron Age, Roman, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval, medieval/post-medieval, post-medieval and post-medieval/modern pottery sherds; Roman to medieval lava quern fragments; pieces of animal bone; medieval and post-medieval roof tiles; post-medieval and late post-medieval/modern brick fragments; pieces of daub; post-medieval bottle glass; post-medieval clay tobacco pipe fragments; undatable iron smithing slag; medieval coins and a range of other, medieval to post-medieval and undatable metal objects. These metal finds include a medieval buckle, strap end, mount, stirrup-shaped strap loop, enamelled horse-harness pendant and lead weight; a medieval/post-medieval lace tag, scabbard chape, ring thimble and copper alloy suspension ring; post-medieval buttons, mounts, a watch winder, spoon, furniture handle, barrel tap, child’s thimble, unidentified copper alloy object and lead weight and undatable iron nails, lead waste and various unidentified iron and copper alloy objects. Numerous modern metal objects were also recovered, the majority of which are of little interest. The only notable exceptions are a French coin of 1931-1947 and number of military buttons - which may well represent items lost during military activities taking place at this location in World War Two.
See report (S6) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S7).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2016.366).
P. Watkins (HES), 8 April 2024.

November 2018. Trial Trenching.
Further evaluation of proposed mineral extraction area in western half of site. This phase of work saw the excavation of an additional 18 trenches, seven immediately to the north of the area examined in 2012 (Trenches 100-106) and 11 to the east (Trenches 107-117).
These additional trenches revealed a range of linear and discrete features, with many of the former corresponding with the previously identified cropmarks and geophysical anomalies.
A trench positioned to coincide with the southern portion of the possible ring-ditch identified by the 2011/2012 geophysical survey revealed a substantial corresponding ditch. This flat-based, steep-sided feature produced no dating evidence and samples taken from its fills produced only small amount of charcoal and a charred tuber. The distribution of its fills does though hint at the presence of a internal bank or mound.
Another of the trenches in the northern group revealed the north-east corner of the rhomboidal enclosure first identified by the 2011/2012 geophysical survey. This ditch contained several Late Iron Age pottery sherds, along with a small assemblage of wheel-made early Roman pottery of early to mid-1st-century date. A sample taken from one of the fills of this ditch contained charcoal but little else in the way of plant macrofossils or other remains.
The southernmost trenches coincided with a particularly dense cluster of linear cropmarks thought to potentially represent remains predating the main group of rectilinear boundaries. Various corresponding ditches were revealed, although unfortunately these and the other remains revealed at this location produced little in the way of dating evidence. Notable exceptions included a pair of adjacent pits that both contained early Roman pottery – providing further evidence for activity at this location around the mid 1st-century AD. A piece of burnt sandstone that had possibly been used as a sharpening stone was also found in one of these pits. Several sherds of later Roman pottery were also recovered from a pair of adjacent, perpendicular ditches. Other notable finds from these features included a Late Saxon silver coin, which was recovered from one of the ditches associated with a pair of curvilinear cropmarks. It is notable that sample taken from this feature and one of the ditches that had produced Roman pottery were both found to contain rye grain – which was not cultivated extensively until the Saxon period.
Remains likely to be associated with later activity included a number of ditches that coincided with the possible double-ditched trackway visible as both cropmarks and geophysical anomalies. One of these ditches contained an iron horseshoe nail of medieval or later date and a sample from the fill of this feature was the only one found to contain iron hammerscale. Despite the apparent association of these remains with the line of a later road no surviving traces of such a routeway were uncovered.
Although two of the excavated trenches lay close to the site of the World War Two searchlight station (NHER 50846) no corresponding remains were uncovered.
Unstratified finds were limited to a Neolithic/Bronze Age flint flake, a possible rubbing stone and a small assemblage of predominantly modern metal objects. These modern objects include two brass military buttons that are both examples of standard World War Two-era battle dress buttons.
See report (S8) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.360).
P. Watkins (HES), 6 April 2024.