NHER 8745 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Possible Iron Age/Roman fort at High Banks

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Summary

Part of a rectangular earthwork here has been interpreted as an Iron Age or Roman fort. The site is also visible on aerial photographs. Fragments of Roman pottery have been found in the area since 1933.

Protected Status/Designation

Scheduled Monument 1004038: High Banks

Location

Map sheet	TF90SW
Civil Parish	OVINGTON, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK
Civil Parish	SAHAM TONEY, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

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Full Description

On this site survives a rectangular earthwork, partly destroyed, which perhaps indicates the presence of an Iron Age fort.

1933. Potboilers and animal bones found.
1957-9. Roman sherds, tile, metalwork found.
1961. Roman sherds found.
1974. Ditch exposed in section; Roman sherds.
1983. Roman sherds found.
1985. Roman sherds found.

See full details, (S1) in file.

13 May 1994. NLA aerial photography.
Extant half of rectangular Iron Age/Roman? Fort clearly visible.
No corresponding cropmark is detected for levelled half of monument.
S. Massey (NLA) 6 February 2001.

22 July 1996. NLA aerial photography.
Earthwork remains of enclosure still visible. In addition to this cropmarks can be seen where the earthwork no longer survives.
H. Clare (NLA) 4 January 2002.

January-May 1999. Metal-detecting.
The Roman pottery sherds previously recorded under this number are now recorded under NHER 15050.
E. McDonald (HES), 1 June 2018.

Associated Sources (14)

--- SNF53893 Aerial Photograph: CUCAP. TF 9204L.
--- SNF50426 Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TF 9204G - K.
--- SNF10961 Aerial Photograph: St Joseph AP CC052; Unit TF9203 A-B.
--- SNF48604 Aerial Photograph: TF 92 04 D-F.
--- SNF97838 Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
--- SNF43 Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF478.
--- SNF87260 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Ovington.
--- SNF87260 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Saham Toney [4].
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 90 SW 3; TF 90 SW 28.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF2273 Serial: 1957. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries. No 4. p 4.
--- SNF87124 Serial: 1959. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1959. No. 6. p 5.
<S1> SNF66246 Unpublished Document: Wymer, J.. 1983. Site notes.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (2)

Object Types (7)

POT BOILER (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
ANIMAL REMAINS (Undated)
FLOOR TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
QUERN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SPADE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

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Record last edited

Sep 25 2025 9:40AM