Record Details

NHER Number:15111
Type of record:Monument
Name:Post medieval dene hole, under 44 Castle Street

Summary

In 1977 a shaft possibly belonging to a 16th century chalk mine was discovered at this location. The shaft lay under the cellar of the 19th century terraced house and supposedly contained numerous bottles and vases.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TL 874 829
Map Sheet:TL88SE
Parish:THETFORD, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

Discovered in 1977. Reported in Eastern Evening News. Chalk mine under cellar.

A shaft was discovered under the cellar of a 19th century terraced house. Dome-shaped, 7.6m (25ft) long, 4.0m (13ft) wide and 3.7m (12ft) high, though floor is said in same article (S1) to be 10.7m (35ft) below the cellar.
Extends under Castle Street. 'Numerous bottles and vases' were also found.
Said to be 'possibly 16th century'.
E. Rose (NAU), 1 August 1979.

This chalk mine may be roughly contemporary with other large-scale mines in the area, NHER 17501 and NHER 22885, as well as smaller medieval chalk pits at NHER 42852.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 22 July 2008.

See newspaper article in NIAS records (S2)
W. Arnold (HES), 6 December 2010.

Monument Types

  • DENE HOLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • BOTTLE (Unknown date)
  • VASE (Unknown date)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1977. Man finds chalk mine under house. 12 May.
<S2>Archive: NIAS. Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society Records.

Related records

42852Related to: Medieval quarry pits and remains of post medieval public house (Monument)
17501Related to: Possible medieval or post medieval flint or chalk mine, garden of 30 Castle Street (Monument)
22885Related to: Post medieval mine shaft (Monument)

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