Record Details
| NHER Number: | 4454 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Site of a medieval moated manor northeast of Millers Farm |
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Summary
This complex group of earthworks consists of a moated enclosure with three ditched enclosures to the east. These eastern enclosures have internal features suggesting the presence of fishponds and a building. The site is thought to be a manorial complex, possibly of the Abbey of Ramsey. There is a possible later enclosure to the south of this site.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TL 625 985 |
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| Map Sheet: | TL69NW |
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| Parish: | HILGAY, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
Medieval moated site and associated earthwork enclosures containing a series of fishponds.
Moated homestead site north of Thistle Hall Road in pasture. Visible on ground and on RAF vertical aerial photograph 9 July 1946. Plan in file - noted by R.R. Clarke (NCM) 1958.
E. Rose (NAU).
(S1) describes this as three moated sites in a row.
E. Rose (NAU), 17 January 1986.
February 1987. Visit. Fenland Survey Reference HLG 1.
Earthworks in good condition. Dry main moat and a couple of subsidiary ones. Under rough pasture with horses on. Couple of rather regular ponds in pasture field to south could also be associated.
R.J. Silvester (NAU), 24 February 1987.
Further earthwork enclosures of a similar type are shown to the south on NAU air photographs, also what may be ridge and furrow (D.A. Edwards (NLA)) but could be steam ploughing (E. Rose (NLA)). This additional area is not scheduled. E. Rose (NLA) and D. Edwards (NLA) 3 May 1996.
Note that this now brings the cropmarks near to NHER 20563, suggesting the medieval stonework there might be from a manor on this site, rather than from Modney Priory.
(S2) in file.
R.J.Rickett 29 March 1990.
February 1996. Visit.
Visit to ascertain necessity for earthwork survey at 1:1000. (S3) shows all features, albeit with slight generalisation and a decision was made not to undertake survey unless specifically asked by English Heritage or other body.
B. Cushion (NLA), April 1996.
22 July 1996. NLA air photography.
Earthworks visible.
H. Clare (NLA), 4 January 2002.
August 1998. Visit.
Earthworks south of road likely to post-date the moated sites to north.
See (S4).
B. Cushion (NLA), 12 August 1998.
1999.
Scheduled area slightly reduced.
November 1999. Earthwork survey.
A moated enclosure has a series of three contiguous ditched enclosures to its east, which have internal features suggesting fishponds and a building position. The whole is thought to be a manorial complex, possibly of the Abbey of Ramsey.
Finds on moat platform identified are:
1 medieval pottery sherd (body sherd glazed Grimston).
3 post-medieval scraps of brick.
See report (S5) for plan and further details. This site was included in (S6) and the survey is also noted in (S7).
B. Cushion (NLA), 23 November 1999.
Monument Types
- DOVECOTE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- TRACKWAY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- TRACKWAY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds
- BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
Protected Status
- Scheduled Monument
- Higher Level Stewardship
- SHINE
Sources and further reading
| --- | Aerial Photograph: RAF. RAF AP 1069UK 1634 print 3204. Unit TL6298 A-F,J-M,V-AC. |
| --- | *Fieldwork: Fenland Survey. HLG 1. FENS. |
| --- | Serial: 1957. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries. No 4. p 3. |
| --- | Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TL 6298AD - AE. |
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Monograph: Silvester, R. J. 1991. The Fenland Project, Number 4: The Wissey Embayment and the Fen Causeway, Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 52. |
| --- | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Hilgay. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| --- | Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Scheduling Notification. Notification. DNF307. |
| --- | Designation: English Heritage. 1994? -2011?. English Heritage Digital Designation Record. Record. DNF307. |
| <S1> | Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF307. |
| <S2> | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 69 NW 9 [3]. |
| <S3> | Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Pathfinder map. |
| <S4> | Unpublished Document: Cushion, B.. 1998. In reference to planning application East End, Hilgay. |
| <S5> | Unpublished Report: Cushion, B. 1999. Hilgay SMR 4454. Earthwork Survey Report. |
| <S6> | Monograph: Cushion, B. and Davison, A. 2003. Earthworks of Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 104. p 109. |
| <S7> | Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2000. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1999. Norfolk Archaeology. XLIII Pt III pp 521-543. p 527. |
Related records - none
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