NHER 7544 (Monument record) - Site of medieval Burgh Hall and watermill, Round Hill

Site of Burgh Hall, mentioned in 1313 with water mill adjacent. In 1908 it was noted that traces of an outer ditch could be seen, separated from the main ditch by a raised bank. These ditches were unbroken, apart from a single causeway to the north-east (S1).

1850: Medieval jugs, helmet, wooden bridge found in clearing moat, see (S2).

1908. Stray Find and Excavation.
In Spring 1908 a number of finds were recovered when the moat was cleaned. These included "many fragments of freestone, some of them worked", which were interpreted as the remains of a bridge (S1). It is also noted that W. Rye recovered a "chisel-ended arrowhead" and that both Rye and W. G. found "fragments of undoubted Roman pottery". This arrowhead a sherd of pottery are figured in (S1) (see copy in file). It is also noted in (S1) that "slight excavations" took place around this time in several parts of the enclosure, apparently confirming the natural origins of the mound. A variety of "flat tiles" were recovered, many of which were glazed. Samples sent to the British Museum were identified as "15 century of perhaps a little earlier". In Autumn 1908 glazed pottery sherds were discovered by Rye. In October 1908 a trench was excavated across the northern portion of the mound. This produced additional tiles, fragments of "loose rubble" and burnt glass. In November 1908 a trench excavated closer to the entrance revealed a thick layer of clay between the topsoil and the "peat of the marshland"; this was interpreted as the foundations for a drawbridge. A small number of pottery sherds were recovered. See (S1) for further details. Information from (S2), (S3) and (S4). See also notes in (S5), (S6) and (S7).

A note added to (S3) by E. Rose (NAU) suggests that Rye's arrowhead may be Mesolithic, but it is almost certainly a later Neolithic chisel arrowhead. This find is probably one of the reasons that Burgh-next-Alysham is listed in (S8) as having produced "Neolithic chipped" implements prior to 1919 (Rye being listed as one of the finders). Some of pottery recovered by Rye's at this site is now held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1916.25). It is noted on (S3) that all of these sherds were identified as medieval by R. R. Clarke (NCM) - it is therefore possible that the sherds initially thought to be Roman were also medieval.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 August 2014.

1975-77: Medieval sherds and tile found.
See file for details, schedule, Norfolk Archaeological Research Group moats survey, notes by R. R. Clarke (NCM), copy of 1313 inventory and photograph copies of 1908 sherds.
E. Rose (NAU) 29 January 1990.

November 2002.
Whole site under good grass cover, grazed by sheep, under an E.S.A. agreement. Agent may wish to carry out limited silt removal from moat, and is aware of SMC requirements, and will notify DEFRA and NLA prior to any works.
H. Paterson (A&E) 7 November 2002.

Management Statement signed 18 November 2002.
H. Paterson (A&E) 21 November 2002.

June 2022. Aylsham and Brampton Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
The earthworks of a large mound surrounded by a medieval moat (see above) are seen on aerial photographs (S9-S11 and S13) and on recent (2017) visualised lidar data (S12). The earthworks most likely relate to the site of the Medieval Burgh Hall and its associated features. The earthwork remains of the moat can be seen well on the visualised lidar data. Two rectangular mounds can be seen on S12 to the east of the moat (centred at TG 2136 2618). It is possible that these features may have related to former medieval building platforms. A rectangular pit can be seen centred at TG 2138 2609. The pit may be medieval to post medieval in date although the function of the feature is uncertain. A possible medieval to post medieval boundary ditch and a possible boundary bank are visible to the south of the moat (centred at TG2138 2604). A large amount of drainage and natural features can be seen across the area on the visualised lidar data. It is possible that some of the above features may be natural in origin or relate to modern drainage. An area of low earthwork bank and ditch features is visible at TG 2152 2598 on S12. Its possible that some of the earthworks may relate to medieval to post medieval boundary banks and ditches; However, it is also possible that these features may relate to former modern drainage ditches. As the archaeological origin of these feature is uncertain, the area has been mapped by extent. The monument polygon has been updated to the extent of the features visible on S9-S13
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 17 June 2022.