Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

NOTE; NHER 3453 is really a section of this site and that record should also be consulted.

26 January 1972. [1].
Scatter of Roman tile.
Information from (S1).
E. Rose (NAU), 22 May 1981.

1984. Metal detecting.
Including medieval metalwork and coins.
Roman metalwork.
Post medieval finds.
See detailed list and (S2) in file.
All the above comprise Context 1.
A. Rogerson (NAU), October 1984.

14 October 1986. Fenland Fieldwalking WGY 8. Context 2. [2].
Within scatter Context 1. See (S2).
Spread of Middle Saxon Ipswich type ware on south facing slope of ridge island and running up onto crest.
Some bone fragments scattered around and on west side of scatter some pottery, probably medieval.
Fair spread of slag across site but only in one or two places does this make a concentration.
Fair sandy gravel and weathered, covered by rape.
Also some Thetford ware and one non-Ipswich Middle Saxon. And some Iron Age.
For larger scatter with sherds derived from this site? See NHER 19167.
Finds are kept in the NCM.
R. Silvester (NAU), 14 October 1986.

For full details of wares, flint types etc., see (S3).

1989 to 1990. Further fieldwork carried out in Fenland Evaluation project
Work involved the continuation of the individual plotting of Middle Saxon Ipswich ware sherds begun during the Fenland Survey.
A dossier has been prepared for the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission; see (S4).
M.D. Leah (NAU), August 1990.

1993. Metal detecting. [3].
Sceat.
Four Middle Saxon pins.
Late Saxon ring.
Undated gold ingot.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 7 July 1993.

January 1995. Metal detecting. [3].
Roman coin.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 May 1995.

November 1998. Metal detecting. [4 and 5].
Middle Saxon or Late Saxon copper alloy hooked tag with wide triangular plate and snapped off hook. Two attachment holes set well in from the corners. Plate decorated with double rows of rectangular punch marks forming a border and a central vertical line. 7th to 11th century. To be photographed.
Early post medieval gilt copper alloy belt or harness mount, open work with relief decoration. One ending a circle with a fleur-de-lis knop, the other is a long keyhole shape with a long knop. Two bent-over spikes on reverse.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 29 December 1998.

February 1999.
Object number 1b identified as fragment of Viking tortoise brooch, (S7 and S8).
See NHER 5668.
See description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 5 June 1999.

February 1999. Metal detecting. [6].
Roman coin.
Middle Saxon coins, pins and strap end.
Details in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 April 1999.

November 1999. Metal detecting. [7].
One Middle Saxon and one post medieval coin.
Bronze Age spearhead fragment, (S9).
Early Saxon/Middle Saxon/Late Saxon and medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.

February 2000. Metal detecting.
One Middle Saxon coin.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 1 April 2000.

December 2000. Metal detecting.
Six Roman coins.
Small late Roman (dispersed) coin hoard - 5 siliquae.
Two Middle Saxon coins.
Three medieval coins.
One post medieval coin.
One post medieval jetton.
Bronze Age (S10), Roman, Early Saxon, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval, post medieval and undatable metal finds.
Late Saxon finds include another fragment of Viking oval brooch as found in 1999, (S11).
See lists, (S2) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 22 March 2001.

Summer 2001. Metal detecting.
Bronze Age (S12), Roman, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval, post medieval and undated metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 September 2001.

December 2001/January 2002. Metal detecting.
Roman, Early Saxon, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon and medieval metal finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 25 February 2002.

Before 4 March 2002. Metal detecting.
Three Roman coins.
Middle Saxon coin.
Four Middle Saxon pins.
Post medieval cloth seal.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 April 2002.

Before June 2002. Metal detecting.
Three Roman coins (addition to siliquae hoard found in 2000).
One medieval and one post medieval coin.
Middle Saxon metal finds including one silver and eight copper alloy pins.
?Medieval and ?post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
Middle Saxon silver pin acquired by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2004.870).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 7 June 2002.

July/August 2002. Metal detecting.
Middle Saxon coin.
Post medieval belt mount.
See lists and (S2) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 September 2002.

Three Roman siliquae found 26 April 2002 disclaimed as Treasure.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 December 2002.

December 2003 to January 2004.
Middle Saxon stylus eraser, (S13 and S14).
See description.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 16 February 2004.

Before 12 January 2004. Metal detecting.
Two more siliquae from hoard, one sceatta, two medieval coins,
5th century Early Saxon brooch.
Seventeen Middle Saxon pins, (S15).
Middle Saxon and Late Saxon metal objects.
Early Saxon pot sherd with remarkable stamp perhaps representing an eel, (S16). This stamp has been suggested by A. Rogerson to possibly reflect place name Wormegay - intepreated as 'the island of the reptiles'.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 16 March 2004. Amended by E. McDonald (HES), 1 March 2019.

Ipswich ware rim with stamped decoration, found by Fenland Evaluation Project 1989-1990.
See (S5) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 28 December 2004.

August/September 2005. Metal detecting.
One sceat.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 October 2005.

3 September 2006. Metal detecting.
Around ninety people detecting from 10am onwards.
Iron Age or Roman brooch, Roman furniture fitting, medieval casket fitting and post medieval musket ball.
See lists in file.
E. Darch (NLA), 4 September 2006.

September 2007. ALSF NHER Enhancement Sub-Unit D.
This record contains NHER 3453. These form a coherent site and both records should be examined together. They may be related to Middle Saxon sherds found in adjacent NHERs 19167, 19168 and 3460.
Ipswich ware was first recovered from this Middle Saxon site in 1970. A detailed "sherd-by-sherd" survey completed in 1991 recorded a crisply defined area of Ipswich ware extending to 1.8ha next to the edge of the island on a southern-facing slope. St Michael's parish church is close by to the west. The distribution of metal objects matches very closely that of the pottery. The assemblage includes 19 pins and 2 styli as well as 6 sceattas. The latest coin is a denier of Louis the Pious (814 to 840). The likelihood that concentrations of iron smelting slag to the southwest of St Michael's church are Middle Saxon remains unproven. Evidence for Early Saxon activity on the site is sparse. There is also insufficient evidence to indicate occupation continuing into the 10th century, a point borne out by a corresponding lack of Late Saxon metal finds. Exceptions to this are two fragments of a Viking gilt-bronze oval brooch (or possibly a pair) found within an almost sherd-free gap in the Middle Saxon pottery distribution. It may be significant that a spread of human bone coincides with this gap and a Scandinavian burial may be indicated.
The best interpretation of the restricted and short-lived, almost exclusively Middle Saxon site, might be that it is monastic. Its topographic setting is reminiscent of the three probably monastic sites in Suffolk, at Brandon, Butley and Iken. An additional indicator may be the presence of an inhumation cemetery, admittedly unexcavated and undated..
M. Dennis (NLA), 23 September 2007.

Before 2011. Geophysical survey.
Three north-south aligned linear features were noted as parchmarks c.100m west of the eastern extent of NHER 19168, running over an average north to south distance of c. 90m. Each had an approximate width of 3m, and they seemed to curve on a common alignment slightly towards the east at their northern end. The features seem to represent boundary ditches; probably the main western boundary ditches of the Middle to Late Saxon settlement. Their common alignment suggests either the presence of a trivallate enclosure, or the periodic reinstatement of a key boundary feature. Beyond the northern extent of the three north-south anomalies two further cropmarks were identified, running into this area on an east-west alignment for observed lengths of c. 20m (western feature) and c.40m (eastern feature). If the features in this area relate to the north-south aligned features (NHER 19168), a potential northern side of a large sub-square, measuring a maximum of c.200 square metres, is implied. If this is a Middle to Late Saxon boundary the now isolated St. Michaels church would be placed in the south-west corner of an enclosure, possibly implying either a contemporaneous layout or later churchyard layout respecting earlier boundaries.
See (S6).
S. Howard (HES), 10 November 2011.

February-June 2014. Metal-detecting. [9].
Finds recorded on the PAS database:
Middle Saxon stylus (See additional finds description and sketch in file) - PAS details to follow.
Medieval belt mounts, buckles, a strap-end, strap fitting, harness mount, purse bar fragment and casket key.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy stud.
Post-medieval hollow-domed and hooked sword belt fitting.
Information from PAS import.
Finds identified by HES but not recorded on the PAS database:
1 Roman copper alloy coin.
3 medieval silver coins.
1 post-medieval copper alloy Charles I farthing.
A. Beckham (HES), 5 October 2014.

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
• FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
• CEMETERY (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• INHUMATION (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• INHUMATION CEMETERY (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• MONASTERY? (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• SETTLEMENT? (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• INHUMATION? (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Undated)
• CASTING WASTE (Unknown date)
• FERRULE (Unknown date)
• INGOT (Unknown date)
• METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
• NEEDLE (Unknown date)
• RING (Unknown date)
• UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
• WEIGHT (Unknown date)
• AWL (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
• SPEAR (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
• POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN HOARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
• BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
• BUCKLE (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
• HOOKED TAG (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
• VESSEL (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
• POT (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 550 AD)
• BROOCH (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• BUCKLE (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• DRESS HOOK (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• HOOKED TAG (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• STRAP END (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• STYLUS (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• TWEEZERS (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• BROOCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• DRESS HOOK (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• FINGER RING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• FINGER RING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• FURNITURE FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• HOOKED TAG (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• INSCRIBED OBJECT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• STRAP END (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• TWEEZERS (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• BADGE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CAULDRON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CLOTH SEAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FIGURINE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• HARNESS FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• INSCRIBED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• TOY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• TWEEZERS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1325 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1325 AD)
• BUCKLE (Medieval - 1150 AD to 1250 AD)
• BUCKLE (Medieval - 1150 AD to 1300 AD)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1450 AD)
• STRAP END (Medieval - 1270 AD to 1400 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
• PURSE (Medieval - 1450 AD to 1500 AD)
• STUD (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
• COIN (16th Century to 19th Century - 1539 AD to 1900 AD)
• BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• FIREARM (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• HARNESS FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• HARNESS MOUNT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• NAIL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• PIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• SEAL MATRIX (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• THIMBLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• TOY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• WASHER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• SWORD BELT (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)

Protected Status

• SHINE

Sources and further reading

Related records

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Wormegay (Parish Summary)