Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

January-May 1999. Geophysical Surveys, Topographic Survey and Systematic Fieldwalking Survey.
Blakeney Area Historical Society surveyed this site, immediately surrounding 'Blakeney Chapel' (NHER 6245). Few features were identified that did not relate to the 'chapel', except for the line of an iron fence perhaps from wartime defences. Only late post-medieval finds were recovered during the sampling of molehills.
See article (S13).
E. Rose (NLA), 8 July 1999. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 17 December 2021.

November/December 2002. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of area of proposed sea defence works.
Located a complexity of cut features and disturbance many of which may be associated with archaeological activity.
See report (S1) for further details.
J. Allen (NLA), 12 March 2003. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2015.

February 2003. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation on site of proposed sea defence work. Included Blakeney Chapel (NHER 6245). Contexts 1-167.
The trenches revealed a small number of archaeological features, including a Neolithic pit containing large quantities of pottery and flint.
Finds recovered included an Early Saxon bracteate.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3). See (S4) for further information on the gold bracteate (currently on loan to Norwich Castle Museum - NWHCM : L2003.2).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 22 November 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2015.

See CD (S5) on digital storage shelf.

February 2004. Excavation.
Excavation on site of proposed sea defence work. Contexts 1100-1245.
Confirmed the presence of Neolithic activity in the area, and revealed a variety of features comprising a possible hearth, pits and post holes including a possible circular enclosure.
Finds included diagnostic worked flints and pottery which suggest a temporary or permanent settlement in the area during the earlier Neolithic period.
A horse burial was also found, which may have been of a later date.
See report (S6) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S7).
J. Allen (NLA), 4 July 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2015.

September 2004-March 2005. Excavation.
Investigation of 'Blakeney Chapel' (NHER 6245). Contexts 2000-3199.
An excavation for the Environment Agency confirmed the presence of a 14th/15th century building, built exclusively in flint of local origin, with a 17th century extension which incorporated reused stone and brick. The use of the building as a chapel is neither confirmed nor refuted.
Neolithic flint, Iron Age, Roman and 11th century pottery were present in residual contexts.
Below the structure was a series of linear ditches on a northern and easterly alignment, possibly 12th/13th century in date. Associated with both buildings were post-holes, pits, fireplaces and a hearth. Finds included coins, metalwork, industrial waste (iron slag, mainly hearth bottoms from a smithing hearth) and quantities of animal bone. The roofing tiles and bricks may form the best and largest assemblage of its kind in Norfolk. The worked flint is probably residual, in contrast to the Neolithic material from excavations further to the south, but an early land surface may survive some metres below the chapel. Blocks of worked stone are thought to derive from another building.
Final report awaited. See assessment report (S8) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S9) and (S10).
D. Gurney (NLA), 6 October 2006 and D. Holburn (HES), 21 September 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2015.

August-December 2005. Watching Brief.
Maintained during establishment of a new sea defence embankment and the re-alignment of the River Glaven.
No archaeological remains were found. No contexts used.
See report (S11) for further details.
J. Allen (NLA), 16 February 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2015.

February - April 2006. Phase two of the watching brief. Contexts 3000 to 3007 used.
Maintained during excavation of new channel (to east of previously monitored works).
No archaeological finds or features found.
See report (S12) for further details.
J. Allen (NLA), 5 September 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2015.

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 7000 BC to 3001 BC)
• ANIMAL BURIAL (Early Neolithic to Unknown - 4000 BC)
• ENCLOSURE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• FINDSPOT (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
• HEARTH (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• OCCUPATION SITE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• PIT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• POST HOLE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• SETTLEMENT? (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• FINDSPOT (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
• FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• BUILDING (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• ENCLOSURE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• PIT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• BOLT (FASTENING) (Unknown date)
• KNIFE (Unknown date)
• MOLLUSCA REMAINS (Undated)
• PLANT REMAINS (Undated)
• ROPE (Undated)
• BURNT FLINT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
• END SCRAPER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Early Neolithic to Unknown - 4000 BC)
• BLADE (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
• FLAKE (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
• POT (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
• SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
• POT (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
• POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BRACTEATE (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
• POT (Late Saxon to 19th Century - 851 AD to 1900 AD)
• BRICK (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• BUCKLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• EAR SCOOP (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• NEEDLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• ROOF TILE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• TOOTH PICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• MUSKET BALL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• STRAP END (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

Related records - none

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Cley next the Sea (Parish Summary)