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Record Details

NHER Number:24783
Type of record:Monument
Name:Site of Great Fransham Manor and multi-period finds

Summary

This is the site of the medieval manor house of Great Fransham, which is recorded in documents from the mid 14th century. Medieval pottery, bricks and roof tiles have been found during fieldwalking, and flint and mortar building foundations have been ploughed up.
Fieldwalking and metal-detecting between 1988 and 2014 has recovered a late prehistoric worked flints, including Neolithic to Bronze Age scrapers and an arrowhead; Iron Age to the post-medieval pottery sherds; Roman, medieval and post-medieval coins; medieval and post-medieval jettons and undatable, Roman, Middle Saxon/Late Saxon and medieval to post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include undated casting waste and metalworking debris; a Roman brooch and bead; a Middle Saxon brooch; a Middle/Late Saxon strap-end; a Late Saxon stirrup terminal; medieval to post-medieval dress accessories; medieval seal matrices, a thimble, balance, bell, papal bull, brooch, candle holder, finger ring, needle holder, mirror case, spindle whorl and harness mounts, pendants and fittings; a medieval/post-medieval bell, metalworking debris, thimble, weight, rivet, furniture fitting, chain, copper alloy vessel fragments and a copper alloy ring and a post-medieval cloth seal, window came, ferrule, finger ring, hooked spur leather attachment, furniture mount or escutcheon and a sword belt fitting.

Images

  • A medieval annular brooch with animal head decoration from Fransham © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
  • Middle Saxon/Late Saxon strap end © Norfolk County Council
  • Middle Saxon/Late Saxon strap end 1 from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Neolothic/Early Bronze Age arrowhead 1 from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon coin die 1 from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval strap fitting 1 from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval mount 1 from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval key from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Middle Saxon brooch from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon stirrup from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval buckle from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval buckle from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval harness pendant from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval harness pendant from NHER 24378 © Norfolk County Council

Location

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

Full description

1988. Gridded fieldwalking Fransham survey.
Contexts 1 to 17.
Site of building, medieval, reported by farmer.
A. Rogerson (NAU), August 1988.

1992. Fieldwalking finds. Context 18.
18 sherds collected, all medieval, after conversion of part of field into temporary 'moto-cross' track.
See (S1).
A. Rogerson (NLA), November 1993.

This site is recorded in (S2) as Med 5. (S2) states that this is the site of Great Fransham Manor house, mentioned in documents from the mid 14th century to the late 16th century.
S. Spooner (NLA), 15 December 2005.

August-September 2005. Metal-detecting.
1 ?Bronze Age flint ?borer.
1 Roman coin.
13 medieval coins, 2 jettons, 1 papal bulla (Innocent III), 1 sword chape fragment, 2 spur fragments, 1 ?harness swivelling loop, 1 tinned/silvered strap end, 1 candle holder fragment, 1 composite hooked strap end, 1 vessel handle, 1 ?horse ?harness hooked bar mount, 1 casket key (S10), 1 mirror case fragment, 2 seal matrix's (1 lead; inscription: 'seal of Roger knight', 1 AE ; inscription: 'secrate seal'), 1 finger ring, 1 brooch (annular), 2 thimbles 1 strap loop, 1 strap end and 1 ?box/casket composite binding fragment.
2 lead weights.
1 medieval/post-medieval dress/harness rumbler bell, 1 ring, 6 vessel fragments, 1 paper clip rivet, 1 hasp and 1 ?purse bar (gilt).
2 post-medieval jettons and 1 tinned buckle frame.
2 undatable lead weights.
Flint identified by P. Robins (NCM), numismatic items by A. Marsden (NLA), papal bulla by T. Pestell (NCM) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists and map in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 31 October 2005.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 11 March 2014.

October-November 2005. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval coin, 1 brooch (annular), 1 thimble, 1 horse harness pendant (gilt), 1 strap end, 1 folding clasp, 1 strap end, 1 gilt strap/harness fitting.
2 medieval/post-medieval lumps of metal working scrap and 1 ?horse harness fitting fragment.
Coin identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 December 2005.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 3 March 2014.

November-December 2005. Metal-detecting.
1 Roman brooch.
3 medieval coins, 1 medieval jetton, 1 buckle, 2 buckle plates (1 gilt, other a fragment), 1 buckle frame, 1 horse harness banner (gilt), 1 bar mount (from harness, gilt), 1 ?belt fitting, 2 lead pot mends, 1 composite strap end (5 part), 1 ?buckle plate, 1 buckle plate or strap end fragment, 1 horse harness suspension stud (gilt), 1 seal matrix and 1 harness bell (gilt).
3 medieval/post-medieval vessel fragments (1 leg, 1 rim, 1 body), 2 candlestick fragments and 2 metal working scrap fragments.
1 post-medieval ?slide clasp/buckle and 1 ?finger ring or ferrule.
Numismatic items identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 16 January 2005.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 26 February 2014.

November-December 2006. Metal-detecting.
1 Roman coin.
1 medieval strap fitting, 1?strap fitting, 1 horse harness stud (with coat of arms) and 1 furniture fitting.
1 medieval/post-medieval tailors sewing ring or thimble.
Coin identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 January 2007.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 26 February 2014.

November-December 2007. Metal-detecting.
1 Late Prehistoric flint flake.
1 ?Roman unidentified object.
3 medieval coins, 17 pottery sherds (16 unglazed, 1 glazed Grimston), 2 ceramic roof tiles, 1 Bar mount strap fitting, 1 buckle frame (annular), 1 strap plate, 1 ?harness mount, 1 balance pan, 1 furniture fitting, 1 lead weight or spindle whorl and 1 lead papal bull (of Innocent III).
6 medieval/post-medieval vessel fragments (4 rim, 1 body, 1 leg).
1 post-medieval coin.
1 undated sheet curved into a tube with butt seam.
Flint identified by P. Robins (NCM), coins by A. Marsden (NLA), papal bull by T. Pestell (NCM) and pottery and other objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 January 2008.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 26 February 2014.

December 2007-January 2008. Metal-detecting.
2 medieval coins, 1 key (from box or casket) and 1 swiveling loop (from ?harness).
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 February 2008.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 26 February 2014.

January-February 2008. Metal-detecting.
2 Roman coins and 1 pottery sherd (greyware).
?Late Saxon.
3 medieval coins, 22 pottery sherds (17 unglazed, 5 glazed Grimston), 1 ceramic roof tile fragment, 1 buckle (gilt), 1 strap plate, 1 lace chape, 1 ?buckle plate or composite strap-end, 1 harness fitting (from base of revolving banner ), 1 dagger scabbard chape (lower part) and 1 seal matrix (inscription: Counterseal of the Abbott of Robertsbridge).
1 ?medieval hone stone.
1 medieval/post-medieval composite rumbler bell, 2 vessel fragments (1 rim, 1 leg), 1 bell fragment and 2 lead weights.
1 post-medieval coin, 1 silver button, 2 harness mount, 2 crotal bells and 1 lead cloth seal fragment.
7 undated casting waste droplets.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA), silver button by E. Darch (NLA) and pottery and other objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 15 March 2008.

March-April 2008. Metal-detecting.
2 Roman pottery sherds (Greyware) and 1 glass bead fragment (dark blue).
1 ?Late Saxon pottery sherd (sagging base, ?Thetford-type).
37 medieval pottery sherds (1 unglazed, 10n glazed Grimston, 26 unglazed), 1 buckle plate, 1 domed thimble, 1 casket key and 1 swivelling hooked harness fitting (gilt).
1 post-medieval pottery sherd.
Identified by A. Rogerson (NLA). See descriptions in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 10 May 2008.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 26 February 2014.

April-May 2008. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval coin weight, 1 pottery sherd, 1 padlock, 1 white metal button and 1 buckle frame fragment.
Pottery Identified by A. Rogerson (NLA), coin weight by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 13 June 2008.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 3 March 2014.

December 2008-January 2009. Metal-detecting.
Two Roman, 10 medieval and two post-medieval coins, medieval roof tile, needle holder and mount, post-medieval purse and undatable metal working debris.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 February 2009.

2008-2009. The Art Fund.
A seal was found at Fransham far from the Abbey of Robertsbridge in Sussex from where it originated. The cost was £3850 and it was Art Funded for Norwich Museum by £750.
See (S3).
S. Howard (NLA), 13 January 2010.

January-February 2010. Metal-detecting.
Prehistoric worked flints including an unusual arrowhead, possibly Late Saxon or medieval iron coin die (S7), medieval belt fitting, horse harness mount, pot mend, weight, medieval/post-medieval vessel, scrap sheet and post-medieval button and window came.
See list in file.
S. Ashley, (NLA) 5 March 2010.

February-March 2010. Metal-detecting.
Medieval mount (S9) and seal matrix.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 April 2010.

May-June 2010. Metal-detecting.
Two medieval coins, Middle Saxon/Late Saxon (S6), medieval, medieval/post-medieval and post-medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 July 2010.

March-April 2012. Metal-detecting.
Prehistoric retouched flint flake, three medieval coins, medieval, medieval/post-medieval , post-medieval and undatable metal objects.
See lists in file.
S. Ashley (HES), 15 May 2012.

September-October 2014. Metal-detecting. [1].
Early Neolithic scraper.
Neolithic/Bronze Age scrapers.
1 Roman coin and 4 pottery sherds.
Middle Saxon brooch.
1 Late Saxon pottery sherd and stirrup terminal.
2 medieval coins, 1 jetton, 7 pottery sherds, 3 roof tile fragments, buttons, buckles (S4), a harness pendant (S5) and thimble.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy vessel fragment and a copper alloy ring.
3 post-medieval coins, a buckle, hooked spur leather attachment, furniture mount or escutcheon and a sword belt fitting.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 3 December 2014.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 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 (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SETTLEMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • CASTING WASTE (Unknown date)
  • CASTING WASTE (Unknown date)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Unknown date)
  • POT (Undated)
  • QUERN (Undated)
  • WEIGHT (Unknown date)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
  • ARROWHEAD (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
  • BORER (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 388 AD to 402 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • STRAP END (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BROOCH (Middle Saxon - 720 AD to 850 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1100 AD)
  • STIRRUP (Late Saxon to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1100 AD)
  • BALANCE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BELL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BELL (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BULL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUTTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CANDLE HOLDER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CANDLESTICK (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CHAIN (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • LACE TAG (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • MIRROR CASE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • NEEDLE HOLDER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PADLOCK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT MEND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT MEND (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PURSE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • RIVET (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (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)
  • STYLUS (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SWORD BELT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (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)
  • WHETSTONE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1136 AD to 1145 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1150 AD to 1225 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1250 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1204 AD to 1216 AD)
  • BUTTON (Medieval - 1230 AD to 1450 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1250 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1251 AD to 1272 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1251 AD to 1272 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval to 17th Century - 1300 AD to 1700 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1330 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1344 AD to 1351 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 17th Century - 1350 AD to 1700 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1351 AD to 1377 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1415 AD to 1497 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 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)
  • CAME (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CLOTH SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CROTAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FERRULE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PURSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1554 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1561 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century to 17th Century - 1558 AD to 1603 AD)
  • SPUR (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (17th Century to 18th Century - 1660 AD to 1720 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (17th Century to 18th Century - 1660 AD to 1720 AD)
  • SWORD BELT (17th Century to 18th Century - 1660 AD to 1720 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Publication: British Museum. 2010. Treasure Act Annual Report 2008. p xxxii.
---*Fieldwork: Fransham Survey. G52. AJGR.
---Illustration: Finds Illustrations.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Article in Serial: Ashley, S. 2006. Recent Finds of Anglo-Norman 'High-Status' Objects from Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLV Pt I pp 105-108.
<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.
<S3>Article in Serial: Clayton, P.. 2009. The Art Fund and Antiquities (2008 - 2009 Review).. Minerva. September/October Issue, p 38.
<S4>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2015. Drawing of incomplete medieval copper alloy gaping-mouth beast buckle. Film. 2:1.
<S5>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2015. Drawing of incomplete and slightly distorted medieval gilt copper alloy harness pendant. Film. 2:1.
<S6>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2010. Drawing of incomplete Middle Saxon/Late Saxon strap-end. Find Illustration. Film.
<S7>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2010. Drawing of Late Saxon/medieval coin die. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
<S8>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2010. Drawing of a Neolithic/Late Bronze Age arrowhead. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
<S9>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2010. Drawing of a medieval mount. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
<S10>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2005. Drawing of a medieval casket key. Find Illustration. Film.

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