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Record Details

NHER Number:4193
Type of record:Monument
Name:Site of Late Saxon and medieval settlement and multi-period finds

Summary

This is the site of a Late Saxon settlement, which continued to develop during the medieval period. Metal-detecting and fieldwalking between 1995 and 2023 recovered prehistoric flints, including a hammerstone; pottery dating from the Roman to medieval periods; Roman, Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval coins and various Roman to post-medieval metal objects. These metal finds include Roman brooch fragments and a copper alloy biconical bead; Early Saxon brooch fragments, a bucket binding and wrist clasp; a Middle Saxon pin; medieval dress accessories, a horse harness mount, harness pendant, copper alloy seal matrix and copper alloy stud; a medieval/post-medieval whittle-tang knife fragment, copper alloy vessel leg and lead spindle whorl and metal-working slag of unknown date.

Images

  • Early Saxon brooch from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council
  • Early Saxon sleeve clasp from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council
  • Early Saxon small-long brooch from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council
  • Early Saxon bucket from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council
  • Early Saxon long brooch from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval harness mount from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon Buckle from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon finger ring from NHER 4193 © Norfolk County Council

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF81SE
Parish:FRANSHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

1969.
Scatter of medieval sherds in southwest area of field.
P. Wade-Martins (NAU), 1974.

1978 to 1982. Detailed field walking of whole field. Ordnance Survey Great Fransham, Field 89.
Medieval sherds including local early medieval and Grimston Thetford type sherds (some could be Roman).
Possible Early Saxon and Middle Saxon wares.
Flints.

1995. Field walking and metal-detecting.
Medieval sherd.
Lump of copper alloy slag found by [2] while metal-detecting.
See (S1).
Also, from Field G89 (for NGR see Notes) on same occasion as previously reported finds (and inadvertently omitted from report to NHER until September 2003). Flint hammerstone, surface entirely covered with impact scars. Diameter 60mm, weighing 312g.
A. Rogerson (NLA), February 1996.

21 September 2000. Metal-detecting. For NGR see Notes. Field work Number G89.
Stubble (cereal). Visibility on ground very poor. Detection 15% efficiency.
1) Medieval incomplete and slightly distorted oval copper alloy buckle frame, bar missing and part of one side missing, knop on either side of narrow (4.5 mm) roller which has punched decoration. Approximately 21 x 21 mm.
2) Undatable plano convex spindle whorl or weight with central circular perforation. Weighing 43.6g.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 November 2000.

February 2001. Metal-detecting.
Post-medieval coin.
See description and sketch plan in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 20 April 2002.

This site is recorded as LS8 and Med 30 in (S2), and was occupied from the 11th century to the end of the 13th century. This may have been the original site of Great Fransham Rectory.
See (S2) for more details.
S. Spooner (NLA), 15 December 2005.

December 2008. Metal-detecting. [3].
1 Late Saxon Thetford Ware type sherd.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 3 August 2017.

August-September 2009. Metal-detector.
1 medieval coin, medieval and post-medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 15 October 2009.

September-October 2009. Metal-detecting.
Roman, medieval and post-medieval coins and medieval and post-medieval jettons, Roman brooch, Early Saxon brooches, girdle hanger, wrist clasp, unidentified object, Middle Saxon/Late Saxon hooked tag, Late Saxon finger ring, medieval buckle, belt mount, harness mount, mount, furniture fitting, pot mends, spindle whorl, monumental brasses, window came, medieval/post-medieval mount, buckles, cauldron handle, vessel, rivets, sieve, post-medieval silver brooch/buckle fragment, buckle, hooked tag, harness mount, book clasps, crotal bell, cloth seals, window came and a lead weight.
See description in file,
A. Rogerson, (NLA), 13 November 2009.

December 2010. Metal-detecting.
2 Early Saxon metal objects.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 15 January 2011.

December 2010-January 2011. Metal-detecting.
Romano-British, Early Saxon and medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 11 February 2011.

April-May 2011. Metal-detecting.
Early Saxon, Middle Saxon, medieval and medieval/post-medieval metal objects.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 14 July 2011.

December 2011-January 2012. Metal-detecting. [4].
One Late Saxon and one post-medieval coin.
Late Saxon, medieval, medieval/post-medieval and post-medieval metal objects (including Late Saxon Viking-age gold finger ring).
See lists in file.
Information on coins from PAS import.
A. Rogerson (HES), 17 February 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 March 2024.

January-February 2013. Metal-detecting. [5].
1 post-medieval coin.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 4 April 2013.

June 2021. Metal-detecting. [6].
Medieval copper alloy seal matrix.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 September 2023.

August 2023. Metal-detecting. [7].
Roman copper alloy biconical bead.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2024.

August 2023. Metal-detecting. [8].
Medieval copper alloy rivet.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 March 2024.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • SETTLEMENT (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Undated)
  • WEIGHT (Undated)
  • HAMMERSTONE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BOW BROOCH (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)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BOW BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BUCKET (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SMALL LONG BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • HOOKED TAG (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • BUCKLE (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)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1100 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 997 AD to 1003 AD)
  • BRASS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CLASP (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MOUNT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT MEND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • RIVET (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SIEVE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STYLUS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • RIVET (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1500 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BROOCH (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CROTAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HOOKED TAG (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WINDOW (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1589 AD to 1592 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1602 AD to 1603 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Publication: British Museum. 2011. Treasure Act Annual Report 2009. p xxxviii.
---Publication: British Museum. 2014. Treasure Act Annual Report 2012. p 32.
---*Fieldwork: Fransham Survey. G89. AJGR.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---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. Fransham, Great [2].
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Archive: Fransham Field Walking Boxfile.
<S2>Thesis: Rogerson, A.. 1995. Fransham: an archaeological and historical study of a parish on the Norfolk boulder clay.

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