NHER 69249 (Monument record) - Post-medieval and undated remains

March 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on route of proposed West Winch Housing Access Road (Sections 6 and 7).
This survey identified two east-to-west aligned linear anomalies that both correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the North Runcton tithe map (S1).
Weak north-north-west to south-south-east and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies may also represent infilled ditches, although these were both partially obscured by magnetic disturbance associated with a modern service.
Various other linear anomalies were the result of recent agricultural activity and scattered discrete ferrous anomalies were probably caused by ferrous objects on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S2) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2023.118).
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2025.

September 2023. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential impact of proposed West Winch Housing Access Road.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2025.

April-May 2025. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on route of proposed West Winch Housing Access Road (Trenches 105-106, 109-111, 113, 115-116, 118-119, 121-134 and 141-147).
The 31 trenches excavated at this location in 2024 revealed only a small number of undated features. The most notable was a small sub-circular pit with a dark, charcoal-rich fill that contained a significant quantity of burnt flint. A sample from this deposit produced only charcoal (some identifiable as oak) and the amount of burnt flint suggests its presence wasn't accidental. A discrete feature in an adjacent trench also contained fragments of charcoal and burnt flint, although this was much more irregular. Such features are generally seen as prehistoric, although burnt flint is known to have also been utilised in the Early Saxon period.
Two undated ditches were also recorded, one aligned north-north-east to south-south-west and the other north-to-south.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2025.