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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	13457
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	Possible Roman settlement and corn dryer

Summary

From 1956 Roman pottery sherds have been discovered on this site, and a small domed structure has also been recorded at this site. This was thought to be a Roman corn dryer, and aerial photography has recorded the cropmarks of a rectangular enclosure with internal features. Metal detecting and fieldwalking on this site have recovered a Roman steelyard, Roman pottery sherds, millstones, and medieval and post medieval objects. The concentration of Roman finds here suggests this was an area of Roman settlement.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:	TL 66 99
Map Sheet:	TL69NE
Parish:	WEREHAM, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK
	WRETTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Around 1956.
Heavy scatter of Roman coarseware found, and 'small circular domed structure' hit by plough.

1974. Found with metal detector.
Roman steelyard.
Information from (S1).

22 June 1975. Ordnance Survey aerial photography.
Positive cropmarks.
Sub-rectangular enclosure.
Subrectangular enclosure internally sub-divided.
See (S2).
D. Voisey (NLA) 2 March 1995.

1977.
Site extended by [1] who suggests the domed structure was a corn dryer because he could find no wasters there. Site extends over two hectares and has 'four or five scatters of domestic refuse' with pottery AD 150 to 350. Several fragments of small millstone grit millstones. Pottery west of parish boundary has higher percentage of late forms, some Shouldham ware including rouletted storage jar and flanged bowl decorated internally with wavy line. On slight gravel ridge in fen. From card by [1] 1977 given to NCM, but not sent on to NAU until February 1982. Material not seen.
E. Rose (NAU) 22 February 1982.

Winter 1998. Surface finds on permanent set-aside.
Roman sherds:
Three jar rims, two bowl rims, one base, fifteen body sherds greyware.
One body sherd buff storage jar.
One boday sherd plain samian
Two body sherd Nene Valley colour coated.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 5 July 2000.

Before 10 March 2004. Surface collection from set-aside.
Seventeen sherds Roman greyware including one bowl/dish rim and three bases (weight 293g), one pale buff oxidised (9g) and one shelly (11g).
One medieval unglazed sherd (4g).
Two post medieval glazed red earthenware (27g).
Fragment of Roman millstone grit quern or millstone, original thickness not measurable.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 6 July 2004.

After 10 March 2004. Metal detecting.
Roman sherds and tile.
Medieval and post medieval sherds.
Post medieval brick.
Three post medieval metal objects.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 19 September 2004.

Before 28 February 2005. Metal detecting.
Roman sherds and tile.
Medieval and post medieval sherds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 9 November 2005.

Before 27 April 2005. Surface finds.
Roman and medieval/post medieval sherds.
Roman and medieval roof tiles.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 6 April 2006.

Before 10 April 2006. Metal detecting.
More Roman sherds, post medieval sherds, medieval or post medieval brick.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 26 July 2006.

Before 20 July 2006. Fieldwalking.
Fourteen more Roman sherds.
See list in file.
E. Darch (NLA) 14 December 2006.

Before 29 February 2008. Fieldwalking.
Two Romano-British sherds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 19 March 2008.

Monument Types

RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (subrectangular enclosure, Unknown date)
UNDERGROUND STRUCTURE (Unknown date)
CORN DRYING KILN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (subrectangular enclosure, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

MILLSTONE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
QUERN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
STEELYARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BRICK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
CLOTH SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
FERRULE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
THIMBLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

Higher Level Stewardship

Sources and further reading

---	Serial: 1972. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1972. No 19. p 12.
---	Aerial Photograph: OS 75-269-191.
---	Aerial Photograph: OS 75-269-129.
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>	Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 69 NE 32 [2].
<S2>	Unpublished Document: Voisey, D.. 1995. Norfolk Air Photographs Library: Cropmark plots.