NHER 65586 (Monument record) - Possible saltern, former watercourses and post-medieval field boundaries

September 2020. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development site.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 June 2023.

January 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
The only potentially archaeologically-significant responses were a cluster of discrete anomalies in the south-east corner of the site. These are of uncertain origin, although their magnetic signature suggests they could represent hearths associated with salt production. A number of straight linear anomalies were also recorded, although these all correspond with former field boundaries shown on 19th- and 20th-century maps. Other linear anomalies were probably either associated with field drains or the result of modern ploughing.
A network of sinuous anomalies is likely to represent the remains of tidal creeks and channels associated with the former saltmarsh.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 May 2022.

July 2022. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of relatively small proposed development site at eastern end of northernmost field.
See Heritage Statement (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 June 2023.

August 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The phase of work saw the excavation of three trenches at the eastern end of the site, all three of which were positioned to target anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey.
The first trench was placed to coincide with the cluster of anomalies recorded in the south-east corner of the site. This revealed a broad, flat-based linear feature, the upper portion of which was entirely filled with fragments of fired clay. A number of the pieces retained for analysis exhibit a pink bloom, suggesting this may well represent debris from medieval or earlier salt production (briquetage). A land drain was the only other feature exposed in this trench.
The two other trenches were positioned to target the sinuous linear anomalies thought to represent palaeochannels. These were confirmed to be tidal creeks.
Unstratified finds were limited to several medieval/post-medieval brick fragments.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 February 2023.

March and April 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site at eastern end of northern field.
This survey identified no evidence for archaeologically-significant remains.
The only responses of note are north-north-west to south-south-east and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies that both correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Walpole St Peter tithe map (S4).
The majority of the anomalies recorded are of probable natural origin, reflecting former water channels in the area.
Scattered discrete ferrous anomalies are likely to have been could been caused by modern debris.
There was no evidence for surviving remains associated with a possible saltern mound previously recorded at this location (NHER 19694).
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 June 2023.

July 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site at eastern end of northern field.
In all nine of the trenches excavated a greyish brown clayey silt with yellow sand laminations lay immediately beneath the topsoil. The only features observed cutting this deposit were a pair of ditches. These north-north-west to south-south-east and north-west to south-east aligned features had both been identified by the preceding geophysical survey and correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the 19th-century maps. There was no trace of the palaeochannel identified by the geophysical survey, indicating that this was sealed by the clay silt layer. This silt layer also overlay a possible saltern mound previously identified at this location, the centre of which lies at c. TF 4862 1633 (NHER 19694). A test pit excavated within one of the two trenches that coincided with this mound demonstrated it was made up of a pale, yellowish grey sand that was at least 0.9m thick. The overlying silt was only 0.15m deep at this point. A trench excavated in the south-east corner of the proposed development area coincided with the margins of a second possible saltern mound (NHER 19693). This mound was also overlain by the clay silt layer, although this only extended part way up its slope. A test pit demonstrated that this mound consisted of a sequence of silty sand deposits, with the base of the earliest not reached. Neither mound contained any material likely to represent debris from salt production and no finds were recovered.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 May 2024.