Record Details
| NHER Number: | 8076 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Possible medieval moated enclosure, Old Hall Farm |
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Summary
This is the site of what appears to be a medieval moated enclosure. Local legend had it that this was the site of the predecessor to Wroxham Hall or related to a monastery. Today the ditches are largely waterfilled. A slight mound nearby may be upcast from the moat or a prospect mound, and there are possible lower earthworks to the east. It is possible that the features is simply a series of drainage ditches.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 2778 1678 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG21NE |
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| Parish: | WROXHAM, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
Feature resembling moat, but not named as such, shown on 6 inch Ordnance Survey at Oldhall Farm.
Local legend had it that this was the site of the predecessor to Wroxham Hall and/or a monastery. The latter is not correct but is a story that often attaches to ruins. (NCM Bolingbroke Collection).
Originally a rectangular moated site, the west side remains wide and waterfilled but overgrown with reeds at south end.
A large pond just to the the west does not appear to be connected. North side waterfilled, narrows towards east where it joins a leat to river - no break here now, though one shown on Ordnance Survey 6 inch map. East side is continuation of leat gradually becomes narrower to south until ends as dry ditch stopping at lavatory of farm cottages. Latter (Oldhall Cottages) stood across site of south arm; recently demolished but rubble seems to be all 19th century.
Visit by E. Rose (NAU), 25 May 1983.
March 2003.
Moat as described in 1983 visit. No evidence now of demolished cottages. Moat mostly waterfilled and clear with a few rushes, fringed in part with alder. Interior boggy, grazed by cattle in summer months. Possible lower earthworks to east. Some 50m east adjacent to farm track large high mound with ditch tapering to north? Prospect mound or upcast from drainage or other works.
H. Paterson (A&E), 10 March 2003.
June 2011.
Observations during field visit suggested this may be a series of drainage channels rather than a moat. Site consists of a flat platform with very precise ditches. If this is a medieval moat it appears to have been recut within the modern period.
[1] reiterated the possible connection between the pond to the south west and a previous monastic site, however there is no known evidence for this.
K. Powell (HES) 18 May 2012.
Monument Types
- MOUND (Unknown date)
- PROSPECT MOUND (Unknown date)
- MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- POND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WATERCOURSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Aerial Photograph: TG2716 B,C. |
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Wroxham. |
Related records - none
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