Record Details

NHER Number:7656
Type of record:Monument
Name:Site of a medieval moated bishops' palace

Summary

This moated bishops' palace was built in 1250 by Walter de Suffield, Bishop of Norwich. It was used by other bishops until the ownership of the land passed to the Crown between 1500 and 1525. Part of the moat was still water filled when the earthworks were surveyed in 1981. Fieldwalking and metal detecting have recovered many medieval and post medieval finds including a medieval copper alloy horse harness pendant with the heraldic design of the Bishopric of Norwich.

Images

  • A medieval horse harness pendant from the site of a medieval Bishops' Palace  © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TG22SW
Parish:HEVINGHAM, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

Site of Bishop's Palace, and Joshua's Pond (Ordnance Survey Antiquities).
Palace built in 1250 and passed to crown 1500 to 1526,

12 July 1972.
Ordnance Survey revisors found tile scatter and one sherd greyware, partly green glazed, 13th to 14th century, on central island which is a raised platform.
Information from (S1).

May 1978.
No trace of buildings within moat, but farmer says he has ploughed up bricks here since he bought the property around 1973. For details of park Farm noted during this visit see NHER 43102. Owner very interested and says a student from Hull University showed previous owner drawings and plans of palace, whereabouts now not known! (S2) shows Joshua's Pond as Fox Pond with old road looping round it but also new road cut across it. A massive earth dam remains across north end pond like (S3).
E. Rose (NAU).

January/February 1998. Metal detecting.
Within moat.
Medieval coin, medieval and post medieval objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 10 February 1998.

February/March 1998. Metal detecting.
Three medieval coins, post medieval jetton.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
Details in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 7 April 1998.

August/September 1998. Metal detecting.
Medieval and post medieval coins.
Medieval jetton.
Post medieval token.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 10 October 1998.

September/October 1998. Metal detecting.
Undatable worked flint and metalworking debris.
Medieval and post medieval coins, medieval and post medieval metal finds including a horse pendant with arms of Bishop of Norwich.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 9 November 1998.

December 1998/January 1999. Metal detecting.
One medieval coin.
Two post medieval jettons.
Post medieval buckle.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 9 February 1999.

February/March 1999. Metal detecting.
Medieval and post medieval coins.
Late medieval and early post medieval metal finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 April 1999.

August to September 1999. Metal detecting.
?Early Saxon medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See lists and (S4) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 October 1999.

January to February 2000. Metal detecting.
One post medieval coin. See list in file.
One copper alloy shield-shaped pendant from horse harness, red enamel and small traces of gilding survive.
See (S4) with blazon in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 March 2000.

February to March 2000. Metal detecting.
?Medieval object. Medieval/post medieval buckle.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 April 2000.

October to November 2000. Metal detecting.
Medieval coin.
Post medieval token.
Medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 December 2000.

November to December 2000. Metal detecting.
Four medieval coins.
Two medieval jettons.
Post medieval metal finds (including post-medieval silver vessel lid).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 January 2001.

January/February 2001. Metal detecting.
Medieval and post medieval seal matrices.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 March 2001.

August/September 2001. Metal detecting.
Medieval horse harness pendant. See (S5).
Medieval and post medieval coins.
Late medieval/early post medieval thimble and buckle.
Lists in file.
S. Ashley (NLA), 9 October 2001.

October/November 2002. Metal detecting.
Three Roman, three medieval and two post medieval coins.
Medieval buckle or belt mount.
Medieval or post medieval cauldron.
Post medieval button.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 11 December 2002.

December 2002/January 2003. Metal detecting.
Two medieval and one post medieval coin.
Post medieval token.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 5 February 2003.

February 2003.
Interior ploughed to around 30cm (12 inches), fragments of brick/tile seen in ploughsoil. Ditches mostly filled with stream running through east side. Moat mostly wooded with old coppiced willows and other species growing in ditches and to either side. Southeast corner in area of dead wood and grass, with much dead wood in ditches. Northwest corner choked with scrub and farm refuse. Plough kept 1to 1.5m away from lip of ditch. North end of site used as area for manure dumps and farm machinery, earth churned up here. Joshua's pond clean and water filled, surrounded by pasture grazed by sheep. A few old trees in the meadow.
H. Paterson (A&E), 28 February 2003.

August/September 2003. Metal detecting.
One medieval and two post medieval coins.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 October 2003.

September/October 2003. Metal detecting.
One medieval coin.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 November 2003.

September/October 2003. Metal detecting.
One medieval coin.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 November 2003.

October/November 2003. Metal detecting.
Two medieval metal objects.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 10 December 2003.

March/April 2005. Metal detecting.
One medieval coin.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 10 May 2005.

September/October 2005. Metal detecting.
Two medieval coins.
One medieval jetton.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 7 November 2005.

September/October 2006. Metal detecting.
2 medieval coins.
1 medieval jetton.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 4 November 2006.

August - September 2008. Metal detecting.
1 Post-Medieval coin weight and token; Medieval and Post-Medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 7 October 2008.

Monument Types

  • BARN (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • BISHOPS PALACE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • DAM (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BARN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BUCKET (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BOX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CHAFING DISH (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HORSE TRAPPING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PURSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SPUR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • TOKEN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CLOTH SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CROTAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DRESS FASTENER (DRESS) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SPUR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SWORD BELT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DRESS FASTENER (DRESS) (19th Century - 1801 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Photograph: NLA. 2001. Finds Photograph. Polaroid.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Monograph: Ashley, S. 2002. Medieval Armorial Horse Furniture in Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 101.
---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2001. Treasure Annual Report 2000. p 101; No 218.
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Photograph: 2000. KSF 22, Medieval decorative plate..
---Photograph: 2003. KTY 5-3, Medieval gilded plaque..
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Hevingham.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 22 SW 15 [3].
<S2>Publication: Faden, W. and Barringer, J. C. 1989. Faden's Map of Norfolk in 1797.
<S3>Unpublished Document: NARG. 1981. Hevingham Park Farm site of Bishop's Palace, Earthwork Survey.
<S4>Photograph: NCC Find Identification and Recording Service. c. 1975-2000. HES Find Polaroid Collection. HES Find Polaroid Collection. polaroid. black and white.
<S5>Illustration: Finds Illustrations.
<S6>Article in Serial: Geake, H., Rogerson, A. and Ashley, S. 1999. Medieval Seal Matrices from Norfolk, 1996-1998. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt II pp 353-358. no 76, p 357.

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