NHER 8575 (Monument record) - Possible medieval moat

Site of possible medieval moat
The site of a possible medieval moat, although this interpretation has been questioned. Ordnance Survey Record Card (S1) calls the site "not a moat but a fairly modern digging" and notes that the 1843 Tithe map (S2) records the site as a "pit and osier ground".
See also HER Record Card (S3) and NCM Record Card (S4).
A. Henderson (HES), 30 May 2025.

Setpember 1989. Field Observation.
Excavations in 1989 produced remains of sluice-gate, tunnel and other features relating to osier ground, but did not settle question of whether basic feature is a moat. One possibly older brick in NCM.
The moat was partly cleared out by the landowner, revealing the north arm connecting the ponds, the east arm, and the south arm. A field observation was undertaken by E. Rose during this time.
A platform of clay was found in the northeast corner of the moat at least 0.5 metres deep. A brick tunnel about 1 metre high and 0.75 metres wide leaves the northeast corner. A few bricks lying around possibly dredged from the moat appear older than those built into the footings. The rubbish infill that was completely cleared out consisted of mainly early 20th century bottles, iron, and cows skulls, possibly suggesting horn working.
It remains unclear whether the site is a medieval moat or not.
See photographic survey (S5) and report (S6) produced.
See also HER Recording Form (S7).
E. Rose (NAU), 15 September 1989. Amended A. Henderson (HES), 30 May 2025.

1990. NIAS Survey.
Survey conducted by Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society during a dry period in 1990 after the landowner had dredged the moat.
Brick walls were visible under the water and a culvert exposed. These were possibly part of a system to control the water levels.
See Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society archive for sketch plan of features and descriptive note, as well as colour photographic survey (S8).
Copy of NIAS sketches and note (S9) in HES archive.
Amended A. Henderson (HES), 30 May 2025.

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The site described above is depicted on historic and modern Ordnance Survey maps. No further information as to its plan was evident on the consulted aerial photographs and consequently it has not been mapped by the NMP.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 17 March 2006.

February 2013. NMMP Field Visit.
Field visit to the allotments undertaken by the Norfolk Monuments Management Project.
See NMMP archive for further details (S10).
Amended A. Henderson (HES), 30 May 2025.