Record Details

NHER Number:1710
Type of record:Monument
Name:Medieval beacon; Tauft's Beacon

Summary

A mound measuring about 5m in diameter and 1m high stands at this location. A circular foundation has been recorded inside the mound and a medieval brick has been recovered from it. This is probably the site of Tauft's Beacon which is mentioned in documents dating to 1625.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TF 7816 3142
Map Sheet:TF73SE
Parish:BIRCHAM, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Site of watch tower.
Called Roman on (S1), probably medieval.
'Roman pottery' claimed.
See details, (S2) and (S3) in file.
E. Rose (NAU) 9 April 1984.

October 2000. Visit.
Mound about 5m diameter, about 1m high.
H. Paterson (A&E) 3 November 2000.

March 2003.
Schedule revised. Previously SAM Norfolk 274. States that the site is a medieval beacon rather than Roman as in the previous scheduling. This is based on the identification of bricks excavated from the site as late medieval in date.
Identified as Tauft's Beacon which is mentioned in state papers of 1625.
See scheduling report (S4) in file.
M. Horlock (NLA) 14 August 2003.

Monument Types

  • BEACON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds

  • BRICK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Protected Status

  • Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

---Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 73 SE 1 [2].
---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. Bircham.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Scheduling Notification. Notification. DNF341.
<S1>Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-7. Ordnance Survey 25 inch 2nd edition (revised 1902-7).
<S2>Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF341.
<S3>Map: Finder's Map..
<S4>Designation: English Heritage. 1994? -2011?. English Heritage Digital Designation Record. Record. DNF341.

Related records - none

Find out more...

Norfolk County Council logo Heritage Lottery Fund logo

Powered by HBSMR-web and the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd, and mojoPortal CMS
© 2007 - 2024 Norfolk Historic Environment Service