NHER 2785 (Monument record) - Beetley Manor, moated medieval manor

Moated site of Beetley Manor: destroyed sometime before 1590.

1955-1956. Excavation.
A small area was investigated by the Dereham and District Archaeological Society.
The moat measured 121 feet by 60 feet [36m by 18m] and was dry. Foundations of several buildings were found. These were floating foundations, about 1m (2-3 feet) thick, faced with flint but no brick (although brick and plaster are marked on the plan in the file).
Finds included 13th- to 14th-century medieval pottery, iron nails, bones of several domestic animals, an ornament or brooch with glass or enamel decoration, a millstone, and a coin. The coin was originally said to be of Edward III, but it has since been re-identified as Edward V.
Pottery identified by A. Rogerson (NAU), 1977. See drawings (S18)-(S20).
Information from (S21)-(S23). See also brief summaries of this work in (S24) and (S25) and press cutting (S2).
The illustrated pottery from this site is in Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum, Dereham. Other material has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.222).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 May 2018 and 27 April 2019.

December 1976. Scheduled.
This monument was added to the Schedule of Ancient Monuments.
Information from (S1).
H. Hamilton (NLA), 20 December 2007.

26 October 1978. Field Observation.
The ditches in good condition, dry but growing sedge. The central island is well banked up, with some mounds and depressions (?pond) at the south-west corner. There are definite outer banks.
E. Rose (NAU).

1980. Documentary Research.
A survey of Roman to modern settlement patterns was conducted in Launditch Hundred. Beetley Manor is described as consisting of a large rectangular moat that was likely constructed in two phases. The manor house is believed to have been located in the eastern half of the site, which is situated higher than the western half.
Information from (S15).
H. Hamilton (NLA), 20 December 2007.

1996. Field Observation.
The interior is cut and there are undulations showing on the surface. The ditches are filled with rough grass, and there is a little scrub in the east arm that is providing wild life cover.
H. Paterson (A & E), 28 May 1996.

May 2001. Field Observation.
The ditch is wet and reed filled.
H. Paterson (A & E), 2 July 2001.

October 2002. Scheduling Amendment.
The scheduled area of the monument was revised.
See Correspondence in secondary file.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 20 December 2007.

February 2007. Renewed Section 17 management agreement signed; backdated to March 2006.
See (S4).
D. Robertson (NLA), 16 April 2007.

November 2007. Norfolk NMP
Earthworks of a medieval moat are visible on aerial photographs (S5-S14). This is the site of Beetley manor. It is protected as a Scheduled Monument (S1) and was partly excavated in the 1950s (S2). The moat is trapezoidal in plan with an 8m wide ditch and external dimensions of up to 99m by 85m. A short ditch leads off from the main moat ditch to its north, linking it to the Black Water watercourse, with a second ditch extending to its east. A small sub-rectangular pond is present at the western end of the interior. This has previously been interpreted as a fishpond (S1) and is connected to the moat ditch by a narrow channel. A larger, sub-circular pond or depression is present to its north. The eastern half of the interior of the moat forms a slightly raised platform that is believed to have been occupied by the manor house (S1).
J. Albone (NMP), 15 November 2007

March 2009.
3 year Section 17 agreement signed, backdated to 1 February 2009.
See (S16).
D. Robertson (NLA), 1 April 2009.

March 2014.
Section 17 agreement renewed.
See (S17).
D. Robertson (HES), 5 June 2014.