Record Details
| NHER Number: | 27134 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Post-medieval sea bank |
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Summary
An aerial photograph of this location that was taken in 1983 showed cropmarks relating to a sea bank. Only a short, angled length remained but the form suggested a post medieval date.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TF 6252 2304 |
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| Map Sheet: | TF62SW |
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| Parish: | SOUTH WOOTTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
June 2003. Norfolk NMP.
The bank can be seen as an angular bastion type projection of bank, jutting westwards from the line bank NHER 5528. The bank runs north-westwards from the point where bank 5528 passes through the saltern site NHER 27128, for a distance of 95m. The feature then angles sharply back towards the north-east, along the bottom of saltern site 27905, for a length of 94m, before ending in an irregular curving shape which may follow the edge of the saltern. It is not exactly clear what is going on here. This appears to be a breakwater or extension to the line of bank NHER 5528, although it does not reclaim very much additional land. Equally this feature could represent the original line of bank NHER 5528, and, after it had failed, a straighter course further to west was constructed. The former seems like the most sensible idea, and that this bank represents a Post-medieval repair or addition to bank NHER 5528.
M. Brennand (NMP), 1 July 2003.
May and August 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area to east of Estuary Farm.
This survey identified no clear evidence for this bank. 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.
Information from draft report. See NHERs 68891 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.
Two trenches positioned to coincide with the line of this sea bank both encountered light yellowish-brown silt deposits likely to represent the remnants of this feature. An exploratory sondage revealed an underlying bluish grey silt, the uppermost surface of which exhibited evidence for considerable bioturbation – suggesting this had been the surface of the saltmarsh prior to the deposition of the bank material. No dating evidence was recovered.
Information from draft report. See NHER 68891 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 January 2025.
Monument Types
- BANK (EARTHWORK) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- SEA DEFENCES (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| <S1> | Aerial Photograph: Various. 1947 - ?. Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography. CUCAP/RC8-FV 65 20-SEP-1983. |
Related records - none
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