NHER 10471 (Monument record) - Burgh Castle, or Gariannonum/Gariannum

The Roman fort identified as Gariannonum was probably built between AD 260 and AD 280. The fort was subsequently used as a Saxon settlement. It is possible that this is the castle mentioned by Bede where St Fursey founded a monastery in AD 633. The Norman motte and bailey castle constructed across the south wall of the fort was removed in 1839 and the ditch surrounding the motte is still visible on aerial photographs. The internal arrangement of buildings can be visible on aerial photographs. North, south and east walls survive of the formerly complete quadrangular enclosure c. 205 x 100m internally. The walls stand to a height of 4.6m and consist of a neatly coursed facing of flints with brick levelling courses at regular intervals the walls are up to 3m thick at the base. The core is of rubble and mortar and there are six circular bastions which are in fact pear shaped in plan. Sockets let into the upper surfaces of the bastions pertain to a timber super-structure with a fighting platform.
See (S1).
S. Howard (NLA), 15 June 2010.

1756. Possible Early Saxon cremations burials found, with two Early Saxon brooches.

1776. The site appears to have been examined by Colonel William Roy and a sketch map was produced.
Information from manuscript held by the Norfolk Record Office (S43).
H. Hamilton (HES), 03 April 2024.

1816. Gold vessel found.
1843. Excavations.
1846. Sold. See copy of particulars in file.
1850. Further excavations produced Roman material.
1845 to 57. Various documented finds of Roman coins and metalwork, Middle Saxon coins.
1932. Roman colour-coated ware face jar (S13).
1938. Roman gem found.

June 1953. Listed, Grade I.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Roman fort. Probably 260-280 AD, evacuated c.407-408. Subsequently used as Saxon settlement. Norman motte and bailey castle constructed at south-west corner in late 11th century, completely removed 1839. Flint, brick and concrete. Roughly quadrangular. North, east and south walls survive. Traces of foundations of west wall discovered during excavations of 1958-62. Walls of coursed flint facing to concrete rubble core. Every 5-6 courses of flints are 3 courses of bricks, giving striated appearance to walls. At corners and at centre of shorter sides (north and south) are bulbous drum bastions, standing away from walls at base and linked to walls at top. They are solid. 2 further bastions are symmetrically placed in east wall flanking central main gateway. Gateway is now only a jagged hole. The bastions are later additions, probably [in] 4th century AD.
Scheduled Ancient Monument, County number 399."
Information from (S41).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S41) for the current listing details.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 October 2022.

1954. Stray Find.
Found by [1] during ploughing operations close to the margin of the field immediately east of fort "on the edge of a small yet deep hole" (at [2]):
2 Late Saxon disc brooches.
The first is decorated with an animal and is described and figured in both (S38) and (S39).
This brooch was donated to the Ipswich Museum (958-29), along the second disc brooch.
Information from (S38) and (S40).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 31 July 2018.

1956. Roman coin Middle Saxon sherds found.
1957. Roman coin, Roman and Middle Saxon sherds found.

1958.
Late Saxon brooches and Middle Saxon sherds.
Ministry of Works excavation of site revealed the foundations of the Roman turret and another building, and a Middle Saxon structure with postholes and clay floors, probably dating to the 7th century monastery.
Roman sherds and coins, Middle Saxon sherds and loomweight.
(S14, S15 and S16) could be the illustrations for these pottery sherds.

1960.
Ministry of Works excavations revealed Roman buildings adjoining the south wall of the fort, pottery coin hoards and other finds, (S18).
Middle Saxon cemetery and church.
Section through Norman motte showed it to be cut through south wall of fort.
See (S21) for information on the human skeletal remains from this excavation.
See (S34) for draft reoport on a Late Roman helmet found.
See (S36) for details of a project to re-examine the helmet.

1961.
Hoard of late 4th/early 5th century glassware found in a copper alloy bowl in a pit, sealed by an Early Saxon floor.

1966. Roman sherds and jet disc or bead found.
1967. Roman and Middle Saxon coins found.
1968 to 69. Roman coins found.
1970. Roman coins found.
1971. Roman coins found.
1973. Roman tiles found.
1974. Beaker flint dagger found.
1976.
Roman bone objects found, including part of a bone die with ring and dot markings, and a copper alloy pin, (S19).
Roman pottery, (S19).

1977. Roman coins found. (S35)
1978. Roman sherds and bucket found.
1970s. Martiobarbulla found.
1977. Roman sherds and Early Saxon sherds, and human bone on surface and in pipe trench. See plan (S37).
1979-82. Finds of Roman, Middle Saxon, medieval and post medieval sherds, flints.
1980. Roman pottery found.
1981. Roman finger ring found.
1982. Roman sherds found.
1984. Roman sherds and brooch found.
1985. Roman sherds, bronze bowl found.

April and October 1995. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Field survey of land recently acquired by the Norfolk Archaeological Trust. This work was organised and undertaken by the Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group (NAHRG), with support from the Norfolk Archaeological Unit (NAU). Finds recovered included:
Roman coins.
Roman, medieval, post medieval metalwork, including Roman lead brooch pattern (S20).
Roman, Middle Saxon and Late Saxon pottery sherds.
See file for further details. The results of this survey are also summarised in (S26).
See interim reports (S27), (S28), (S29), (S30), (S31), (S32), and (S33).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 March 2017.

September 1996. Earthwork Survey.
See report (S22) for plan and further details. This survey is also noted in (S23).
P. Watkins (HES), 10 March 2015.

See full details, schedule, correspondence, excavation reports, notes on stone types and proposals for site in file.
See (S2) and (S3).
E. Rose (NLA) June 1999.

9 March 1996. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of clearance of dyke forming eastern boundary of reed beds immediately to west of Saxon Shore fort.
No archaeology recorded, no artefacts found.
See report (S4) for further details.
T. Ashwin (NAU), 2 May 1996.

6 June 1997. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of excavation of single post hole for new visitor information panel. No archaeologically significant deposits identified and no finds recovered.
See report (S24) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 March 2015.

22 September 1997. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of excavation of four post settings for new safety fence. No archaeologically significant deposits identified and no finds recovered.
See report (S25) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 March 2015.

2003.
Analysis of Roman helmet in progress.
See note in file.
D. Gurney (NLA), 24 June 2003.

2006.
(S5) suggests that the Roman name for the fort might have been Garannum and the River Yare Garannus, the latter meaning 'Heron river'.
D. Gurney (NLA), 1 December 2006

November 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A number of cropmarks have been recorded from aerial photographs within the fort walls (S6-S10). These include possible traces of subsurface buildings and former structures of potential Roman date, the medieval motte and bailey castle and a number of undated linear features, some of which are likely to pre-date the fort. An overall NMP parent record has been created for all undated and unphased cropmarks outside of the fort walls (NHER 49203). The cropmarks that are likely to be Roman in date and associated with the vicus are recorded under NHER 49204. An additional undated phase of cropmark enclosures and trackways, which either pre-date or post-date the vicus are recorded under NHER 49205.

The majority of the cropmarks recorded within the fort are derived from CUCAP photography dating to 1949-1956 (S7-S8) and 1976 (S9-S10). The main possible structures identified are located within the northern section of the fort. A rectangular structure, measuring 16.5 by 9.5m, is visible within the northeastern corner of the fort. The parchmarks suggest a structure with quite thick walls or a spread layer of rubble (S9-S10). The interior of the structure appears slightly sunken and two dividing walls are visible, creating three cells, with an entrance to the south and a possible additional entrance to the west. Another parchmark and linears to the immediate west may indicate a conjoined structure. A second building or compacted surface is suggested by parchmarks to the south of the central northern tower. This consists of two parallel bands of parching, 6.5m in total width and 26m in length. A number of parched oblong and rectangular features are visible to the north and east. These features sit within a rectangular area defined by ditches. Unlike the structure to the east, it is not immediately clear whether these parchmarks represent subsurface walls or structures or whether they reveal surfaced and compacted areas such as internal fort roads. Two short walls may be suggested by two linear parchmarks running inwards from the main gate to the fort (S9-S10). This line is then continued by two parallel ditches (S7). It is likely that these also represent one of the fort roads. Other smaller parched areas, such as at TG 4745 0467 and TG 4748 0458, may indicate further structures or buried stone. At TG 4742 0456 in 1956 (S8) is an L-shaped area of lighter ground, measuring approximately 17m long and up to 15m across. This has the appearance of a stone deposit or structure being spread by the plough.

In the southeastern corner of the fort is a possible rectangular ditched enclosure (S7). This measures 27m by 14m and is aligned the same as the fort suggesting that it is Roman or later in date. The immense ditches associated with the motte and bailey castle are visible within the southwestern corner of the fort (S7). This motte enclosure is up to 13m wide and 72m across and has two unusual inner ditch sections with bulbous and rounded ends. A curvilinear ditch conjoined to the main ditch to the east appears to be contemporary. Within the motte ditch are a further two lighter and possibly parched areas (S7). Although it is not clear whether this is caused by an archaeological subsurface feature or more recent agricultural activity. A number of fragmentary ditch cropmarks are visible within the motte. These are undated and may well pre-date the both the motte and fort. Two sub-circular features are visible at TG 4741 0455 and TG 4743 0457 (S7). The archaeological origin of these cropmarks is not certain and it is possible that they are the result of underlying natural features.
S. Massey (NMP), 01 November 2006.

17 November 2008.
Scheduled Monument Consent granted to construct access paths from the proposed new car park to the church and Roman fort.
See (S11) for further details
H. White (NLA) 7 January 2009.

c. 2003. Casual find on surface.
15th/16th-century pottery sherd.
See description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 31 October 2009.

Before 22 October 2008. Stray Find.
Found at [3]:
1 Roman pottery sherd.
Identified and compiled by A Rogerson (NLA), 17 November 2008.
See description in file.
Previously recorded (in error) under NHER 10741.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 25 October 2022.

February / March 2010. Casual find.
Ipswich Ware rim sherd.
See description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 April 2010.

2015. Geophysical Survey.
Survey of the interior using ground penetrating radar.
Results awaited.
D. Gurney (HES), 18 December 2015.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S42) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.

April 2024. Stray Find. [4].
Found on surface:
1 Roman pottery sherd.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 May 2025.