Record Details
| NHER Number: | 27078 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Post medieval sea defences |
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Summary
Aerial photographs taken in 1943 show the earthworks of a post medieval sea defence bank at this location.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TF 62114 22445 |
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| Map Sheet: | TF62SW |
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| Parish: | KING’S LYNN, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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| SOUTH WOOTTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
June 2003. Norfolk NMP.
The feature runs in an approximately east to west direction in-between banks NHER 5528 and NHER 5529, across the former bed of the River Great Ouse (S1). At the eastern end the bank splits into two, enclosing an irregular shaped narrow strip of land. This presumably represents two phases of construction, although from the aerial photographs (S1) it appears the southern section (which is on the landward side of the bank) is the later addition.
The river was straightened and diverted from 1821 onwards, and this feature almost certainly post-dates that period. It is presumed that this bank, and NHER 38273 to the south, were constructed after the diversion of the main channel, to prevent tidal waters re-entering and flooding the area of the former channel as it was reclaimed and turned into agricultural land. The feature is ploughed flat by 1969 (S2).
M. Brennand (NMP), 30 June 2003.
May and August 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area to east of Estuary Farm.
This survey identified little trace of the two adjacent banks at the eastern end of this group of sea defences. It should though be noted that the results of this survey were potentially impaired by the presence of 'green waste' across the entire site, which created a dense spread of magnetic disturbance that may have masked archaeologically-significant anomalies. Visualised LiDAR data for the site (reproduced in a report for subsequent trial trenching) indicates that both banks are in fact likely to survive as low earthworks.
Information from draft report. See NHER 68893 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 January 2025.
September-October 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development area to east of Estuary Farm.
The small number of trenches excavated at this location demonstrated that both banks were associated with light yellowish brown silty sand deposits. Several sherds from a post-medieval pot of late 18th to 19th-century date were recovered from the material forming the eastern bank.
Information from draft report. See NHER 68893 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 January 2025.
Monument Types
- BANK (EARTHWORK) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| <S1> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1943. RAF AC/161/140 5028-30 01-JAN-1943 (NMR). |
| <S2> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Meridian Airmaps Limited. 1969. MAL 69026 091-3 03-APR-1969. |
Related records - none
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