Record Details
| NHER Number: | 24187 |
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| Type of record: | Find Spot |
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| Name: | Post medieval cannon |
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Summary
A 19th century cannon stands upright on the mound here, with a ball in the centre of its mouth and hole in its side as if cannon had burst during firing. According to a local story, this cannon was one of a convoy being taken from King's Lynn to Felixstowe during the Napoleonic Wars. However, its carriage broke and it was left lying in the road. Local people then retrieved it and tried to fire it for their amusement at which point it burst. It was not set up as a monument until some time later.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 043 428 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG04SW |
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| Parish: | WIVETON, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
21 November 1987. Site visit by E. Rose (NAU).
Cannon.
Standing upright on mound, ball in centre of mouth, hole in side as if cannon had burst during firing. 19th century type?
E. Rose (NAU) 21 November 1987.
29 May 1994.
No change.
E. Rose (NAU).
A story told by local people is that this cannon was one of a convoy being taken from Lynn to Felixstowe during the Napoleonic Wars; its carriage broke at this point and it was left lying in the road. Local people tried to fire it for their amusement, when it burst. It was not set up as a monument until some time later.
Some or all of this may be true except that one wonders how and why a convoy would go to Felixstowe this way! Was it rather intended for one of the forts along the Norfolk coast?
E. Rose (NLA) 22 May 2000.
Monument Types
- FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds
- CANNON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
Related records - none
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