Record Details
| NHER Number: | 21554 |
|---|
| Type of record: | Monument |
|---|
| Name: | Choseley Farm |
|---|
Summary
A large post-medieval mansion, dating to the mid or late 16th century, and containing much re-used limestone, probably from the medieval leper hospital or Lazar house (NHER 1591) that stood in the area. It has later alterations and a wing of 1848. The barn and outbuildings were converted to residential use in the 1980s.
The farm is built on an interesting site. As mentioned, a leper hospital stood on the site, but there was also a medieval village and church, both of which have now disappeared. Various human burials have been discovered. These may have come from the leper hospital, but analysis of the bones showed that none of the bones showed signs of leprosy, so they are more likely to be part of the cemetery of the vanished church.
Archaeological work undertaken prior to and during the construction of two new buildings close to the farmhouse in 2024 revealed little in the way of significant remains. There was evidence that both locations had seen at least a degree of recent truncation.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TF 7537 4087 |
|---|
| Map Sheet: | TF74SE |
|---|
| Parish: | CHOSELEY, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
|---|
Full description
March 1985. Listed, Grade II.
July 1985. Field Observation.
House probably mid-late 16th century contains much reused limestone, possibly from leper hospital (NHER 1591).
Later alterations and wing of 1848.
Thetford type/Medieval wares from yard and gardens; human remains reported.
See further details in HER Notes (S1).
E. Rose (NLA), 19 July 1995.
October 1985-Autumn 1986. Casual Observation.
Between 1985 and 1986 several skeletons within what was clearly a burial ground were disturbed during groundworks at Choseley Farm. The first was found in late October 1985 and lay beneath a post-medieval wall. In the autumn of 1986 two further skeletons were discovered immediately to the east of the first. Trenching by workmen over the followings weeks disturbed a number of additional burials.
See reports (S2)-(S5) for detailed descriptions of the burials and the circumstances of their discovery.
See report (S6) for a summary of the remains found between 1985 and 1986 and a discussion of the history of the site and the parish as a whole.
It is noted in (S2) that "...other bones found in the vicinity some time ago were sent via a medical acquaintance of the landowners to Cambridge...". It is not clear whether these were ever located.
E. Rose (NLA), 31 July 1997. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 March 2015.
November 2002. Norfolk NMP.
The building is centred on TF 7531 4090 and appears as a ruined, single cell structure in 1946 (S7) with a length of 14m and a width of 5m. The second edition Ordnance Survey (revised 1902-7) depicts the building as a larger structure with a width of 10m (S8). This is a farm building, and is probably post medieval in date. The structure is surrounded by a rectangular embanked enclosure with a hedge on top. This is probably contemporary with the building.
M. Brennand (NMP), 14 November 2002.
May 2024. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed new garage to south-west of farmhouse.
The single trench excavated revealed a cobbled surface of probable post-medieval date. Finds associated with this surface included a heel iron of post-medieval or modern date and fragments of modern brick and window glass. No features were encountered beneath the cobbled surface. It should though be noted that its bedding deposit lay directly above natural geological deposits – suggesting this part of the site saw at least a degree of truncation before the cobbles were lain.
See report (S9) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 January 2025.
September and November 2024. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of a new detached garage block and an extension to existing forge building.
Both areas were stripped to the level of natural geological deposits with no archaeologically-significant remains exposed. In the area of the forge extension these natural deposits lay immediately beneath a relatively thin topsoil layer, suggesting this area had also seen at least a degree of recent truncation. A bank at the south-west edge of the extension footprint was shown to be formed of layers of made ground that were primarily composed of natural deposits mixed with brick rubble. This material overlay a relict topsoil.
Two underpinning pits were also excavated adjacent to the forge building, one of which fell entirely within a large of pit of late post-medieval date. The second revealed two possible post-holes.
Work at the site of the new garage exposed a further portion of the cobbled surface encountered during the preceding trial trenching.
No finds were recovered.
See report (S10) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 January 2025.
Monument Types
- CEMETERY (Unknown date)
- INHUMATION (Unknown date)
- POST HOLE? (Unknown date)
- FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
- FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- BANK (EARTHWORK) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- COBBLED SURFACE (NHER) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- ENCLOSURE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- FARM (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- FARM BUILDING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- FINDSPOT (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
- HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds
- BOLT (FASTENING) (Unknown date)
- HUMAN REMAINS (Unknown date)
- POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
- ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- SHOE IRON (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1273640. |
| --- | Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans. |
| --- | Photograph: Rose, E.. 2004. Historic Environment Service Photography. Film KPB. Site visits by E. Rose.. Historic Environment Service Film Collection. negatives. black and white. KPB/21-22. |
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1994. [Sale advertisment for Choseley Farm]. 1 July. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service. |
| <S2> | Unpublished Report: James, E. H. 1985. Recovery of Skeletal Remains from Choseley Farm - 30th Oct & 1st Nov 1985. |
| <S3> | Unpublished Report: James, E. M. 1986. Choseley Skeleton. |
| <S4> | Unpublished Report: Knowles, A. K. 1986. Skeletal Remains from Choseley Farm. |
| <S5> | Unpublished Report: McKinley, J. I. 1987. Report on the skeletons excavated at Choseley in 1986. |
| <S6> | Unpublished Report: James, E. M. 1987. A burial site at Choseley and a Fresh Appraisal of the Evidence Relating to the Desertion of the Village. |
| <S7> | Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1571 4070-1 07-JUN-1946 (SMR TF 7540B). |
| <S8> | Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-7. Ordnance Survey 25" 2nd edition (1902-7) - Sheet VI.8. |
| <S9> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Gonzalez-Suarez, E. 2024. Choseley Farmhouse, Ringstead Road, Norfolk. An Interim Report of Informative Trenching as Part of a Programme of Archaeological Mitigatory Work (POAMW). Cotswold Archaeology (Suffolk). |
| <S10> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Sommers, M. 2024. Choseley Farmhouse, Choseley, Norfolk. Programme of Archaeological Mitigatory Work Under Archaeological Supervision and Control. Cotswold Archaeology (Suffolk). SU0820_1. |
Related records - none
Find out more...