NHER 69257 (Monument record) - Post-medieval ditches

March 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on route of proposed West Winch Housing Access Road (Section 15).
This survey identified little of potential archaeological interest.
Although a number of east-to-west aligned linear anomalies were recorded, the majority appear to correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the West Winch tithe map (S1). It is suggested that a number of perpendicular, widely-spaced linear anomalies may represent the traces of ridge and furrow cultivation but this is far from certain.
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 240-263).
The 24 trenches excavated at this location revealed little in the way of significant remains, with only three east-to-west aligned ditches recorded – all of which contained ceramic drains and corresponded with former field boundaries depicted on the West Winch tithe map (S1). Finds recovered included medieval/post-medieval roof tile fragments and a single piece of post-medieval clay tobacco pipe stem.
Unstratified finds recovered during this work included a flint flake of possible Lower/Middle Palaeolithic date. This is recorded here for convenience but its exact provenance along the proposed road route is uncertain at present.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2025.