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Contents
1. Introduction 5 1.1 Project background 5 1.2 Scope of the assessment 5 1.3 Methodology 5 1.4 Aim 6 1.5 Objectives 6 1.6 Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER) 6 1.7 National Heritage List for England (NHLE) 6 1.8 Historic maps 6 1.9 Documentary/ internet sources 7 1.10 Site visit 7 1.11 Limitations and assumptions 7
2. Legislation, policy and guidance 9 2.1 National legislation 9 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 9 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 9 Hedgerow Regulations 1997 9 2.2 National guidance 9 Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens in England 9 Historic England Register of Historic Battlefields in England 10 Ancient Woodlands 10 2.3 National planning policy 10 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 10 2.4 Local policy 10 Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Core Strategy 10
3. Topography, geology and land use 13
4. Summary of previous archaeological investigation/ reporting 17
5. Archaeological and historical background 19 5.1 Prehistoric: Palaeolithic (700,000 BP) through to iron age (700 BC - AD 43) 19 5.2 Romano-British (AD 43 - AD 450) 19 5.3 Early-Medieval (AD 450 – AD 1066) 20 5.4 Medieval (AD 1066 - AD 1540) 21 5.5 Post Medieval (AD 1540 onwards) 23 5.6 Undated 25 5.7 Setting considerations 25 5.8 Cartographic sources 27 5.9 Aerial photographs 29 5.10 Historic landscape characterisation 30
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6. Assessment of archaeological potential 31 6.1 Archaeological potential 31 Prehistoric: Lower Palaeolithic (pre-30,000 BP) through to Iron Age (700 BC - AD 43) 31 Roman-British (AD 43 – AD 450) 31 Early-medieval (AD 450 – AD 1066) 31 Medieval (AD 1066 - AD 1540) 32 Post-medieval (AD 1540 onwards) 32
7. Recommendations 33
8. References 35 8.1 Internet Sources 36
Table 5.1 Historic Maps – Brief Overview. 27
Appendix A Gazetteer of recorded features of heritage interest Appendix B Previous Archaeological Investigations/ Reporting Gazetteer Appendix C Figures Appendix D Historic mapping from Norfolk Record Office Appendix E Historic Ordnance Survey Mapping Appendix F Site Plan of RAF Downham Market 1954
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1. Introduction
1.1 Project background
Albanwise Limited own land to the north east of Downham Market and have commissioned Amec Foster Wheeler Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd to prepare evidence in support of an outlineplanning application for the construction of new homes and supporting infrastructure. The site is located on the north eastern periphery of Downham Market in an area characterised by modern housing development to the southern boundary and to agricultural land to the northern and eastern boundaries. The site is in agricultural use.
1.2 Scope of the assessment
In March 2015 Amec Foster Wheeler Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd (formerly AMEC Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd (AMEC)) was commissioned by Albanwise Ltd to carry out an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) of land within and immediately surrounding the site, with the aim of informing the potential for any archaeological issues which may arise from development on the site.
This report details the known archaeological and historical baseline of a study area, extending 1km on all sides of the site boundary, in order to identify known heritage assets that may potentially extend onto, or have associations with, the site, or that might be directly or indirectly impacted by the scheme. The baseline comprises archaeological remains, built heritage and historic landscape features.
As part of the assessment a dialogue has been maintained with the Norfolk County Archaeologists who advised on the requirements for geophysical investigation within the site and adjoining land also under Albanwise Ltd ownership. The Norfolk County Archaeologist also provided a Generic Brief for Heritage Statements and Desk Based Assessment1, which has been followed.
Visits to the site, Historic Environment Record and Norfolk Record Office were also carried out as part of the assessment, the results of which are also incorporated into this report.
1.3 Methodology
The 1km study area for this assessment is located to the north east of Downham Market.
A search of the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER), together with a search specific to designated heritage assets from the National Heritage List online (http://list.historicengland.org.uk/ ) produced a total of 66 known or suspected heritage assets within the study area. None of these heritage assets are recorded within the site boundary. A Scheduled Monument and County Site of Archaeological Importance (CSAI) is located approximately 300m to the east (see Section 3.4.1).
Each of the identified heritage assets within the study area has a unique identifying number given by the respective data curators. Each heritage asset is included within a Historic Environment Gazetteer (see Appendix A).
This assessment has been undertaken in accordance with guidelines set out by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (CIfA, 2014).
1 Norfolk County Council. 2012. Generic Brief for Heritage Statements and Desk Based Assessment.
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1.4 Aim
The aim of this DBA is to identify and characterise the historic environment (archaeological and built heritage) resource within the site and surrounding study area, in order to provide an archaeological and historical baseline that informs an assessment of the likely effects of the proposed development.
1.5 Objectives
The objectives of the desk-based assessment are to:
f Identify all recorded designated and non-designated heritage assets within the study area;
f Identify and describe designated and non-designated built heritage assets within the site and study area;
f Identify and describe historic landscape features2 within the site and study area;
f Assess the potential for previously unrecorded archaeological remains within the site;
f Assess the potential impacts of the proposed works on known or suspected heritage assets; and
f Provide advice on any potential archaeological mitigation in consultation with the Norfolk County Archaeologist.
1.6 Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER)
Information on all known heritage assets within the study area was collected from the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (SHER, see Figure 1 and Appendix A).
1.7 National Heritage List for England (NHLE)
Amec Foster Wheeler maintains a current dataset of designated heritage assets from Historic England. Data within the 1km study area was extracted from the data provided by Historic England on 02/04/2015. A review of the online records from the National Heritage List of England (NHLE) (http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/) was also conducted predominantly to review the detailed descriptions and cross reference with the data provided by the NHER.
1.8 Historic maps
Available historic pre- Ordnance Survey (OS) maps were obtained from the Norfolk Record Office (NRO). Photos of the maps were taken using a digital camera under a permit issued by NRO described in this report are provided in Appendix D. Historic Ordnance Survey maps were obtained from emapsite (http://www.emapsite.com/) and are given in Appendix E. A map of RAF Downham Market is also shown in Appendix F, this was obtained from the RAF Museum Archives in London.
A review of the historic mapping has enabled a picture of historic land use and change, also identifying any past activities that may have potentially impacted recorded or previously un-recorded heritage assets (see Section 6.8 below).
2 e.g. historic field boundaries or ancient watercourses (palaeochannels)
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1.9 Documentary/ internet sources
A number of documentary and internet sources were consulted in order to gain information on the archaeological and historical background of the study area and immediate surrounding region. These are referenced throughout the report and in Section 9. Internet sources were consulted in order to gain general background information on the archaeology, history, geology, land-use and topography of the study area and are also referenced in Section 9. RAF and Ordnance Survey aerial photographic coverage of the area is held by Historic England Archives and the Norfolk HER and was reviewed in order to identify any previously unknown heritage assets within the site boundary and the surrounding study area. Relevant photographs showing the study area were requested and copies were obtained.
1.10 Site visit
A site visit was conducted on Wednesday 6th May 2015, selected photos from which can be found throughout the report. The site visit included a walkover of all the land within the site boundary and targeted visits to heritage assets in the 1km study area.
1.11 Limitations and assumptions
The data in the records supplied by the Norfolk Historic Environment Record is drawn from a variety of sources, which have variable precision and accuracy. Some records are based on recent professional archaeological investigations, which adhere to CIfA standards, whilst others are based on older records or are reliant on members of the public whose precision of recording has not been assessed.
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2. Legislation, policy and guidance
2.1 National legislation
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 Under the terms of the act an archaeological site or historic building of national importance can be designated as a Scheduled Monument and is registered with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Any development that might affect either the Scheduled Monument or its setting is subject to the granting of Scheduled Monument Consent. Historic England advises the government on individual cases for consent and offers advice on the management of Scheduled Monuments.
There are no Scheduled Monuments within the site boundary. There is one Scheduled Monument within the 1km study area, the Old Gate House at Bexwell Hall (ListEntry1003963).
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 covers the registration of Listed Buildings (buildings that are seen to be of special architectural or historic interest) and designation of Conservation Areas (areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance).
A Listed Building may not be demolished, altered or extended in any manner which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest without Listed Building Consent being granted. There are three grades of listing (in descending order):
f Grade I: buildings of exceptional interest;
f Grade II*: particularly important buildings of more than special interest; and
f Grade II: buildings of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them.
There are no Listed Buildings within the site boundary. Within the 1km study area there are two grade II* Listed Buildings and five grade II Listed Buildings.
The site is not located within a Conservation Area (CA). The Conservation Areas of Downham Market and Wimbotsham are included in the 1km study area. Downham Market CA is over 900m to the south and Wimbotsham CA is over 300m to the north.
Hedgerow Regulations 1997 Important hedgerows, as defined by the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, enjoy statutory protection. Various criteria specified in the regulations are used to identify important hedgerows for wildlife, landscape or historical reasons. There are no historic hedgerows within the site boundary.
2.2 National guidance
Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens in England The Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England is maintained by Historic England and divides the sites into three grade bands similar to those used for Listed Buildings.
There are no Registered Parks and Gardens within the site or study area. The nearest is Stradsett Hall located 4km to the east of the site boundary.
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Historic England Register of Historic Battlefields in England The Register of Historic Battlefields in England identifies important English battlefield locations. Its purpose is to offer them protection and to promote a better understanding of their significance, but does not offer any statutory protection. There are no Registered Historic Battlefields within the site or study area.
Ancient Woodlands Ancient woodlands consist of land that has been continuously wooded since AD 1600. Areas of ancient woodland can be protected as nationally important Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) or as Wildlife Sites recognised at a local level.
Ancient woodland is not a statutory designation – it does not give the wood legal protection. However, increasingly, national, regional and local planning policies mention protection of ancient woodland in planning documents. The Woodland Trust (the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity) acts wherever possible to secure protection of ancient woodland. There are no Ancient Woodlands within the site or study area.
2.3 National planning policy
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Designated and non-designated heritage assets are given protection under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Provision for the historic environment is given principally in Section 12 of the NPPF, which directs Local Planning Authorities to set out ‘a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, including heritage assets most at risk through neglect, decay or other threats. In doing so, they should recognise that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and conserve them in a manner appropriate to their significance’.
This requirement is framed by a presumption in favour of sustainable development and the policy recognises that the historic environment has a role to play in urban design (section 7), promoting healthy communities (section 8) and protecting Green Belt land (section 9).
2.4 Local policy
Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Core Strategy The policy relevant to the historic environment is CS12 (Adopted July 2011), which sets out the strategy with regard to Environmental Assets: Green Infrastructure, Historic Environment, Landscape Character, Biodiversity and Geodiversity. The strategies relevant to the historic environment include:
f Proposals to protect and enhance the historic environment and landscape character, biodiversity and geodiversity will be encouraged and supported;
f The historic and built environment play a crucial role in delivering environmental quality and well-being. Therefore the Council will preserve and where appropriate enhance its qualities and characteristics;
f The Council will protect and enhance ancient woodland, designated sites of historical value from development which damages their interest or significance unless the need for, and public benefits of the development outweigh the loss of interest of significance;
f Development should seek to avoid, mitigate or compensate for any adverse impacts on heritage as well as seeking to enhance sites through the creation of new features of heritage interest. The design should be sensitive to the surrounding area and not detract from the inherent quality of the environment;
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f It may be necessary to secure heritage needs through planning conditions and/or obligations. This can include timing of work, Section 106 Agreements, pre-application negotiation, conditions, mitigations and compensation measures;
f New built development will be restricted within 1.5km of the Breckland SPA. (The site is outside this area);
f Proposals for development will be informed by and seek opportunities to reinforce the distinctive character areas in character assessments; and
f Development proposals should demonstrate that their location, scale, design and materials will protect, conserve and, where possible enhance the special qualities and local distinctiveness of the area (including historical and cultural character), gaps between settlements and the landscape.#
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3. Topography, geology and land use
The site is located to the north-east of Downham Market and is currently arable agricultural land (Figure 1, Appendix C), comprising an irregular l-shaped field. The site is bounded to the east by a remnant section of concrete perimeter track (Plate 1) of RAF Downham Market, the former airfield that once covered part of this area. The A10 lies further east beyond the site boundary. The southern boundaries are defined by hedgerows and trees lining Bridle Lane and development further south around Elderflower Way. There is an infilled sand pit now covered with scrub and bounded by tall coniferous trees to the west of the site boundary just north of Bridle Lane. Lynn Road (B1507) forms the western boundary. The northern site boundary does not follow a defined extant boundary visible on the ground and is reflective of the development boundary. The nearest boundary feature to the north is the hedgerow along New Road.
Plate 1: View from the north-east of the site boundary looking south-west toward the remnant concrete perimeter track
Historic mapping shows that until the construction of RAF Downham Market airfield in the 1940s the site was used for agriculture. The majority of the site appears to have been under RAF control, with airfield buildings such as aircraft hangers, dispersal areas and storage and other maintenance structures adjacent to the extant concrete perimeter track (see Appendix F). No above ground visible remains of these structures were identified during the site visit, though the hangers and associated trackways are visible on recent satellite coverage on Google Earth Pro, as are all three runways, despite having been removed. Abutting the concrete track is a parallel section of concrete that is slightly concave in profile and perforated with regularly spaced holes approximately 2m apart (Plate 1). At the northern section the numbers 22/2/44 have been scored into the wet concrete (Plate 2). Presumably this is the date the concrete was laid or repaired. The blocks are laid in 8m sections, about 0.4m wide with four holes in each measuring approximately 0.15m in diameter. The function of this is not known.
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Plate 2: Possible date marked into concrete on the perimeter track near the northern end
The topography of the site shows a gentle slope westwards towards the River Great Ouse and the fens. There are various undulations within the site, in particular a large depression runs north west-south east at the western edge of the site (Plate 3 and Plate 4). The feature is visible on the ground as a slight ridge. This feature extends west beyond Lynn Road, with Low Road running parallel with it down to Wimbotsham. An archaeological desk-based assessment was undertaken by Archaeological Solutions Ltd in 2009 to the west of the site boundary on Land at Low Road/Kingfisher Road, Downham Market. The assessment identified this feature on aerial photographic coverage as an infilled remnant watercourse (palaeochannel).3 A modern drain is located within the feature on the west side of Lynn Road and is marked on modern mapping (Figure 1), but it is unclear if the drain extends to the site. It appears to be associated with another drain than runs north east-south west within that field about 200m north-east of the site.
3 Archaeological Solutions Ltd. 2009. Land at Low Road/ Kingfisher Road, Downham Market, Norfolk: An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. Report No. 3200
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Plate 3: View from the boundary adjacent to Bridle Lane looking north-west towards Lynn Road showing part of the linear depression
Plate 4: View from the western corner of the site looking southeast to the linear depression
The underlying bedrock geology varies from east to west across the site. At the east of the site is Leziate Member Sand, which is Cretaceous Period sedimentary bedrock formed 134 to 140 million years ago in shallow seas. Approximately from the centre of the site westwards the geology is sandstone of the Carstone Formation formed 100 to 112 million years ago in the same environment. The superficial geology is Diamicton of the Lowestoft Formation which is a deposit of chalky till with outwash sands, gravels, silts and clays. This deposit was formed around 2 million years ago in the Quaternary Period when the environment was dominated by ice age conditions. (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.html)
Views from the site are largely of the surrounding relatively flat agricultural land that slopes down to the River Great Ouse (Plate 5) with isolated farmsteads such as Upper Farm visible. Clear views into the site are possible from Lynn Road and the A10 road.
A water main crosses the site boundary at the western end near the petrol station in a north west-south east direction.4
4 Anglian Water. 2014. Clean Water Plan. Anglian Ref. 134367-1
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Plate 5: View from the footpath extending south-east from Bridle Lane looking north-west
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4. Summary of previous archaeological investigation/ reporting
Prior to the submission of this report, there has been no previous archaeological investigation within the site boundary. Within the 1km study area investigation methods employed include metal-detecting, strip map and sample, evaluation and geophysical survey (Appendix B).
Recent geophysical survey5, commissioned in support of the current application, has identified possible sub surface remains of archaeological potential. The results have been interpreted as indicating a possible ditched enclosure of prehistoric or Romano British date, or remnants of former lanes and boundaries associated with the medieval open field system. Traces of ridge and furrow cultivation are also visible on the geophysical survey, as well as areas of probable modern disturbance resulting from the removal of structures associated with the former airfield, a public footpath, underground services and metallic debris in the topsoil.
Previous investigations within close proximity to the site include works at Wimbotsham, 200m to the north. The strip, map and sample instigation was undertaken in 2006-2007 by Norfolk Archaeological Unit (NAU) on the new Anglian Water Pipeline between Stoke Ferry and Downham Market (NHER event no. ENF116155). This investigation identified evidence of prehistoric, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and medieval occupation.6 Further detail is given in Section 6. Roman, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval artefacts have also been recovered in the area by metal detecting in 1994, 2012 and 2013 (NHER MNF30818 and MNF61826). In 2006 an archaeological watching brief (NHER MNF54434) was carried out during the topsoil stripping for the Pipeline, though no archaeological finds or features were recorded.
A geophysical survey undertaken in 2011 by CgMs on land to the south-east of Downham Market identified medieval ridge and furrow and 19th century field boundaries (NHER MNF62930).7 Medieval artefacts were also recovered 800m to the east by metal detectorists.
An evaluation undertaken by NAU to the rear to 95 Lynn Road in 2004 revealed a natural water channel running downhill across the site with several post-medieval drains crossing it. A piece of abraded Roman pottery was also recovered from a shallow pit (NHER MNF44093).8
The Norfolk Historic Environment Record Number event number for the present report is ENF136974.
5 Stratascan. 2015. Downham Market, Norfolk – Geophysical Survey Report.
6 NAU. 2007. An archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation at Wimbotsham: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design.
7 CgMs. 2011. Archaeological geophysical survey on land to the south east of Downham Market.
8 NAU. 2004. An Archaeological Evaluation on Land to the rear of 95 Lynn Road, Downham Market, Norfolk.
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5. Archaeological and historical background
A total of 66 heritage assets were identified within the study area, from data predominantly provided by the NHER. Each asset is identified by a unique number assigned by the data curator (either Historic England or Norfolk HER) and is referred to in the text below and is listed and/or referenced in the gazetteers (see Appendices A and B) and shown in Appendix C - Figure 1.
The periods and dates in this section broadly follow the terminology included in the Transport Analysis Guidance Unit A3, Chapter 8 Impacts on the Historic Environment (WebTag 2014, Table 7).
The information on individual records outlined below is essentially précised from the detailed description sheets provided along with the search request data by the NHER.
5.1 Prehistoric: Palaeolithic (700,000 BP) through to iron age (700 BC - AD 43)
There are seven heritage assets dating to the prehistoric period recorded within the study area. The majority of records refer to finds being identified by metal detecting or chance finds, but strip map and sample excavation has also identified archaeological features evidencing prehistoric occupation within the study area.
At the north of the study area recorded chance finds are Neolithic and Bronze Age flint implements (NHER MNF30810) recovered from a Garden on Church Road, Wimbotsham (630m north of the site boundary) and prehistoric worked flints found during metal detecting in a field 440m north of the site boundary (NHER MNF61826).
A strip, map and sample excavation undertaken in 2006-7 by NAU for a new water pipeline identified Mesolithic or Early Neolithic flint blades, a Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age pit and two Iron Age coins (NHER MNF54031). The excavations also demonstrated later occupation on the site including Roman, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval. To the west of the A10, approximately 900m north of the site boundary, a cropmark feature (NHER MNF16540) was identified on aerial photographic coverage. The feature was initially interpreted as a Bronze Age ring ditch but more likely to be a mill mound (see Section 6.4). Documentary research later identified a medieval mill mound at the location on William Hayward’s map of 1626 in an open field furlong known as Sallow alias Milhilfurlonge.
Over 900m to the south of the site boundary metal detectorists have found Early Iron Age coins (NHER MNF30225 and MNF31096) among Roman, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval objects.
Near Broomhill, 170m west of the site boundary, a Late Iron Age or Roman brooch (NHER MNF59849) was found by metal detecting. Though finds such as these are not definitive proof of a nearby settlement they indicate prehistoric activity in the area.
5.2 Romano-British (AD 43 - AD 450)
There are eight recorded heritage assets within the study area.
Chance finds of Roman material have been found across the study area. Roman coins have been found in a field adjacent to the site boundary (NHER MNF29795) and over 800m southeast of the site boundary in Downham Market (NHER MNF31136). Roman pottery has been found near the War Memorial playing field at Downham Market (NHER MNF13951) and near Wimbotsham at the north of the study area (NHER MNF17577), where coins, pottery, plate brooches and other metal objects (NHER MNF30818). A Roman brooch was found near Stonecross Road at the south of the study area (NHER MNF31110).
Within Downham Market, approximately 700m southwest of the site boundary, evaluation trenches at Short Drove identified probable Roman ditches and Roman pottery fragments (NHER MNF41331). Undated postholes and modern features were also recorded at the location. Within immediate proximity of the
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excavated area a separate archaeological evaluation at 95 Lynn Road revealed a possible Roman pit (NHER MNF44093). The shallow pit contained one abraded sherd of Roman pottery. The evaluation also recorded a natural water channel crossed by several post-medieval drains.9
The strip, map and sample excavation undertaken by NAU on the Anglian Water Pipeline between Stoke Ferry and Downham Market in 2006-7 identified Roman finds in the northern part of that site. In the report on findings it is suggested that there may be a nearby settlement, possibly a villa. A number of the features excavated including trackways, pits and several ditches were interpreted as potentially Roman as Roman material such as broaches, pottery, coins and tiles was recovered from the features and the overlying deposits.10
The nearest known Roman settlement is located outside the study area at Denver over 2km south of the site boundary. Norfolk Archaeological Unit (NAU) excavated the site in 1999 and 2000. The structures and enclosures found during excavations dated to the Late Iron Age and Roman period. The peat fens were the driver for the growth of the settlement in this area with salt production and animal grazing being the key elements of the local economy.11 The Roman settlement at Denver was located on the Fen Causeway, the principle east west Roman road which connected northern Eastern Anglia to Ermine Street and King Street.12
5.3 Early-Medieval (AD 450 – AD 1066)
Downham Market, Wimbotsham and Bexwell are part of the Clackclose Hundred, a division of land introduced by the Saxons during this period. The settlements of Downham Market and Wimbotsham both have origins as Saxon settlements situated on a high ground above the fens. The names of the settlements derive from this period with ‘ham’ meaning town, ‘don’ meaning hill and ‘Winebald’ being a personal name. Both settlements overlook the fens and are positioned by the River Great Ouse for ease of transport and communication and are defensively posited on a hill above the river. The exact configuration of the rivers in this area during this period is uncertain.13
Within the study area evidence for the Saxon settlements largely comprises objects found during metal detecting though the strip, map and sample excavation by NAU in 2006-7 on the new water pipeline north of the site boundary (NHER MNF54031). This work identified early Saxon material in and around the areas of Roman finds at the north of the site, an early Saxon sunken featured building and several burials that were likely part of a Late Saxon or early-medieval cemetery. Ditches and gullies dating to the Late Saxon period previously been noted on aerial photographic coverage of the area14 were also identified and interpreted as a field system.
Objects have been found by metal detecting across the study area. Early Saxon broaches have been found 140m north of the site boundary along with (NHER MNF64125) a Middle to Late Saxon strap end, a hooked tag and a late Saxon ingot. In Downham Market 650m south of the site boundary a Saxon bowl (NHER MNF2443) was found in 1955 during drainage works. Middle Saxon metal objects (NHER MNF44864) have also been recovered from Bexwell at the southern extent of the study area, among medieval coins and post- medieval objects. Late Saxon objects have been discovered in Wimbotsham and include a stray rim sherd of a Stamford Ware bowl found in the new churchyard in 2010 (NHER MNF59792) and Late Saxon pottery in
9 NAU. 2004. An Archaeological Evaluation on Land to the rear of 95 Lynn Road, Downham Market, Norfolk.
10 NAU. 2007. An archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation at Wimbotsham: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design.
11 Gurney, D. 1986. Settlement, Religion, and Industry on the Fen Edge, Three Romano-British sites in Norfolk. In East Anglian Archaeology 31. Derham: Norfolk Archaeological Unit.
12 Fincham, Garrick. R. 1998. Military Communications in the East Anglian Fenland during the Roman Period: an archaeological investigation of the Fen Causeway at Flag Fen, with a discussion of the road’s origins.
13 Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk (1992) Downham Market Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
14 NAU. 2007. An archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation at Wimbotsham: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design.
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the garden of Church Road (NHER MNF30810). A fragment of either Late Saxon or medieval pottery was identified during metal detecting near Wimbotsham (NHER MNF30819). At the south of the study area a Late Saxon Brooch (NHER MNF29716) was also identified by metal detectorists.
Documentary references for Downham Market and Wimbotsham start in the 10th and 11th centuries, though evidently both settlements pre-date these references. The Manor of Downham was granted to Oswald, founder of Ramsey Abbey in Cambridgeshire during the second half of the 10th century by King Edgar. In 1053 Edward the Confessor granted the Abbots of Ramsey the right to hold a market within the town and also to leave and enter the town by land and water.15
5.4 Medieval (AD 1066 - AD 1540)
The land within the site falls within the Lordship of Stow Bardolph which was granted to Hermerus de Ferrers of Wormegay Castle by King William I. Hermerus also seized lands in Stow held by a freeman. Following Hermerus William de Wirmgay, Reginald de Warren and the Lords of Bardolf held Stow Bardolph, which was under the barony of Wirmgay. The lordship of Bardolf continued to be held by this family until in the reign of Henry IV the lands were granted to Thomas Beaufort the Duke of Exeter (Henry’s half-brother). The lordship then passed to Sir William Phelip, then the Lord Viscount of Beaumont. When the lord William de Beaumont died in 1507 without an heir it escheated to the Crown. It was then granted to Sir William Arundel Lord Matrevers and then Sir Nicholas Hare in 1553.16 The village of Stow Bardolph is located over 1km north of the site boundary and is centred on the site of Stow Hall, constructed by Sir Nicholas in 1589.17 It was rebuilt under the ownership of Sir Thomas Hare in 1873 by David Barndon. It was demolished in 1994.18
The historic core of Downham Market is situated outside the study area over 1.2km from the site boundary and is designated as a Conservation Area by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. Within the study area there are at least two other distinct medieval settlements – Wimbotsham and Bexwell. The former is also designated as a Conservation Area.
Within Wimbotsham the earliest surviving structure is St Mary's Church (ListEntry 1205605, Plate 6) which is a grade II* Listed Building and the parish church of Wimbotsham. The earliest structural elements of the church date to the 12th century, but substantial alterations were made in the 13th, 16th and 19th centuries. Adjacent to the churchyard several human skeletons have been found since the 1950s (NHER MNF2434). Undated cropmarks (NHER MNF39700) of trackways, field boundaries and a possible medieval or earlier settlement have also been recorded at the site, but metal detecting revealed no significant finds. To the east of the village the excavations by NAU on the new water pipeline in 2006-7 identified medieval activity on the east side of Lynn Road in the form of extractive pits and a possible building.19
15 Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Downham Market Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk.1992. Wimbotsham Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
16 Milner, W. 1807. An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 7. Clackhouse Hundred and Half: Stow Bardolph. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol7/pp439-448
17 http://www.churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk/stow-hall-gardens/
18http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF2430-Stow-Bardolph-Hall-and- lodge&Index=2236&RecordCount=56542&SessionID=5ad92200-db6d-400f-9369-876f7326a50a
19 NAU. 2007. An archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation at Wimbotsham: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design.
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Plate 6: View of St Mary’s Church looking south-west
Two medieval moated sites are recorded to the west of Wimbotsham. A rectangular feature was identified on aerial photographic coverage (NHER MNF11873) approximately 560m northwest of the site boundary. A further 330m north-west is the second medieval moat (NHER MNF11874), which is also visible as a cropmark and earthwork. Documentary research undertaken by NAU established that this structure was the rectory of Wimbotsham, associated with the manor of Ingoldisthorpe. Excavation at the site by Norfolk Archaeological Unit (NAU) in 1996 confirmed the structure was formerly a rectory established in the 12th century. A timber-framed building dated to the 13th or 14th century was also excavated. The settlement had declined in the 16th century and was given over to pasture by 1740. The only other records relating to medieval activity in Wimbotsham (located 900m north of the site boundary) is a medieval lead pot mend20 found with post-medieval metal finds in 1994 (NHER MNF31074).
To the west of the A10 about 900m north of the site boundary a medieval mill mound was identified as a cropmark feature (NHER MNF16540) on aerial photographic coverage, but was initially interpreted as a Bronze Age ring ditch. Documentary research later identified a medieval mill mound at the location on William Hayward’s map of 1626 in an open field furlong known as Sallow alias Milhilfurlonge.
At Bexwell the Church of St Mary the Virgin (ListEntry 1077855) is the earliest structure and is a grade II* Listed Building and the parish church. The earliest surviving structural elements date to the 12th century with substantial later alterations during the 14th, 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. There was a manor house at Bexwell, but documentary and map research carried out by English Heritage (now Historic England) was not able to establish when Bexwell Hall was demolished as there is very little documentary evidence, suggesting it was already demolished by the 18th century. It is possible the elements taken from the demolished hall have been incorporated into a barn (ListEntry 1077854) located 110m north of St. Mary's Church. The barn is a grade II Listed Building and Scheduled Monument (ListEntry 1003963). The exact origin of the structure has not been ascertained. The Norfolk HER suggests the building dates to the late 15th century, but the origins are highly ambiguous as there are structural elements from a variety of buildings including high status ashlar blocks and tracery windows. The structure had been interpreted as a gatehouse of the Bexwell Hall. The Norfolk HER entry for this structure questions the assertion that this is a gatehouse or tower stating that this might not be an adequate description (NHER MNF2469). A detailed analysis of the building by English Heritage (now Historic England) confirmed that the structural elements are highly complex and ambiguous, furthermore there are no definitive documentary references that state the function of the structure. The assessment concluded that the barn is probably on the site of Bexwell Hall and may include standing and dismantled elements from a variety of buildings. The nearby Bexwell Hall Farmhouse (NHER MNF31001) is described in the Norfolk HER as a late 16th century building with 18th century and later alterations, though
20 A lead plug used to repair a broken vessel
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due to the interior containing a late 14th century or early 15th century carved beam, along with 16th, 18th and 19th century features, it is possible that this building also comprises elements of the old Bexwell Hall.21
There is another cluster of medieval features in the vicinity of Rouse’s Farm at the southern limit of the study area. A possible medieval stone cross (NHER MNF2451) once stood at the location. Though there is now no trace of the cross other than the name Stonecross Road. To the west of this road, ridge and furrow (NHER MNF62930) was identified during geophysical survey by CgMs in 2011. This could be medieval or later. Field boundaries dated to the 19th century were also recorded, and the survey revealed a large number of dipolar anomalies probably relating to concentrations of slag that have been observed on the surface of the field. Metal detecting in a field to the north-east in 2013 found a medieval ampulla and a lead papal bull of Boniface VIII (1294-1303) (NHER MNF65777). Nearby a ring and gilded ring buckle/brooch were found by metal detecting (NHER MNF30245). In addition, medieval coins have been found at Civray Avenue (NHER MNF64173).
5.5 Post Medieval (AD 1540 onwards)
Within Wimbotsham the records for the post-medieval period include houses, a former mill and a findspot. During the post-medieval period the village grew along Church Road with the construction of cottages on either side of the road. The earliest buildings are generally at the east of the village, nearest to the main King’s Lynn Road to Downham Market Road.22 The earliest post-medieval record within Wimbotsham is a 16th or 17th century token found in the garden of 28 Lynn Road (NHER MNF57243). One of the earliest buildings recorded on Norfolk HER is on Church Road and comprises numbers 69, 71 and 73. This was formerly one building when it was constructed in the 17th century. The brick house with ornamental gables was divided into cottages in the 18th century and partly demolished in the 19th century (NHER MNF31017).
Hill House is a grade II Listed Building located on Lynn Road and dating to the early 18th century and constructed of brick and Carstone. It is situated approximately 540m north of the site boundary near the junction with Church Road and Lynn Road and is a former coaching inn. Further west along Church Road, the HER records the site of a former 19th century tower mill that was demolished in 1903 (NHER MNF16319). At the western end of the village a second nucleus was developed around a village green during the 18th and 19th centuries. After the Second World War a lot of the vacant plots were in-filled with modern houses, particularly at Chapel Lane and Turners Close. The remaining farms within the village included Church Farm and Low Farm which help to retain the agricultural nature of the area.23
The Norfolk HER records for the post-medieval period in Downham Market within the limit of the study area include houses, churchyards, extraction pits and findspots. During this period the town was continuing to grow rapidly and the most important goods sold at market during the 18th century were butter, cattle and horses. In the 19th century the population reportedly doubled between 1801 and 1841, according to William White’s History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1845. With the arrival of the railway and growth of industries such as milling and malting in this area during the 19th century the town continued to grow.24 There are three listed buildings within this part of the study area. Two related to 58 Lynn Road, which is a grade II Listed Building (ListEntry1170886 and NHER MNF51940) 18th century house. The garden walls to 58 Lynn Road are also listed at grade II (ListEntry 1077192). Historic England has dated the walls to the 18th century or earlier and they form a rectangular walled garden of carstone and red brick. The Retreat is also a grade II Listed Building (ListEntry 1077193 and NHER MNF51814). It dates to the 19th century and is constructed of pale brick.
The churchyard (NHER MNF38403) of St Edmunds Church is located at the south-western limit of study area. The church itself sits outside the 1km study area and is a grade I Listed Building and former parish church dating to the 15th or 16th centuries.
21 English Heritage. 2012. Bexwell Barn, Bexwell, Norfolk: Analysis and Interpretation. Research report series 36-2012.
22 Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Wimbotsham Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
23 Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Wimbotsham Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
24 Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Downham Market Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
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The only other post-medieval Norfolk HER records within the study area at Downham Market are for sand extraction, a mill and metal detecting finds. The sand pits (NHER MNF64457) were recorded during an archaeological evaluation and probably date to the 19th century with back-filling occurring in the early 20th century. Other extractive areas are known to the south and west. Two mills are recorded in the area, namely the Bexwell Road mill (NHER MNF14518) and the Lynn Road mill (MNF14517). Both are shown on Fayden’s map of 1797 but were both no longer in existence by the end of the 19th century. The post-medieval metal finds recorded in this area (NHER MNF41012) include a buckle, coin weights and a sixpence of William III, a silver ferrule and fragments of belt mounts found by metal detecting.
Within Bexwell during the post-medieval period Bexwell Farm (NHER MNF31001) was constructed. The farmhouse is a 16th century building, extended in the 18th century and remodelled in the 19th century. Some of the internal features date to the 14th and 15th centuries and probably originate from the old Bexwell Hall (see Section 6.4). The Rectory in Bexwell is Victorian, but built in the Tudor style (NHER MNF12231).
The most significant development within the site boundary was the construction of Royal Air Force Downham Market airfield, locally known as Bexwell (NHER MNF2455). RAF Downham was set up as a satellite airfield for RAF Marham the Bomber Command Station. The site was selected in 1940. Construction began in 1941 and with buildings being prefabricated concrete and metal, unlike those built before the Second World War. Steel hangars and Nissen huts were erected along with concrete and steel office and workshops, and extensive underground services. It was opened on April 1 1942 but some elements were still being built. Accounts of airmen first based at the site state that they were all put to work to help get the base ready, which included anything from labouring to fitting out buildings.25 The 1954 RAF record site plan of the site shows that the structures within the site boundary included the concrete perimeter track, aprons (for loading, parking or maintaining aircraft) armament stores, bomb stores, Nissen hut workshops and two T2 aircraft hangars. The westernmost hanger is recorded on the 1954 plan as floor only. Part of the perimeter track is still extant within the site, but it would have extended 3miles around the entire site. The section within the site boundary linked the three runways, hangars and dispersal areas (circular concrete hardstanding for parking aircraft). Cropmarks outlining the T2 hangers and associated tracks and dispersal areas are evident on aerial photographic coverage viewed at the Norfolk HER and obtained from Historic England.
It is also interesting to note that a Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation (FIDO) system was installed along the main runway, which when lit caused visible lines of flame at either side of the main runway to enable take-off and landing in zero visibility conditions. It did this by burning petrol, which also helped to lift the fog along the runway. The fuel pumping station for the FIDO was located at Downham Road at the present site of the Murco garage.26
The majority of the airfield buildings were located within Bexwell at the main site entrance. The layout was fairly typical for the period comprising three runways 50 yards wide in a triangular alignment. The main runway ran east-west and was located to the southeast of the site boundary and measured 2,000 yards in length. The space between the runways was left as rough grass. Life on the camp is well documented in the book by John B. Hilling named Strike Hard: A Bomber Airfield at War. In this the author gives many accounts from the Squadrons stationed there and details the progression of Bomber Command through the Second World War sorties and the development of bombing aircraft from Stirlings to Mosquitoes and Lancasters. The book also draws on published and private sources to give both a personal and official account. RAF Downham is known for having two airmen to receive the Victoria Cross posthumously, which is comparatively significant for such a small base, as only 22 were awarded within Bomber Command.27 The main units based at the airfield over the four years it was operational include Squadron Numbers 12, 214, 218, 274, 571, 608, 623 and 635.28
One of the personal accounts given in the book details that before the airfield even housed any aircraft it was bombed by the German Luftwaffe in June 1942. The runway lighting had been turned on for testing. The Squadron Leader for 218 witnessed the bombings and gives an account in the Strike Hard book. He said
25 Hilling. John. B. 1995. Strike Hard: A Bomber Airfield at War: RAF Downham Market and its Squadrons 1942-46
26 McKenzie, Roderick. 2004. Ghost Fields of Norfolk: History, Plans and Photographed remains of 32 Norfolk Airfields.
27 Hilling. John. B. 1995. Strike Hard: A Bomber Airfield at War: RAF Downham Market and its Squadrons 1942-46.
28 http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/downham-market-bexwell
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that all the bombs fell a mile south-east near Crimplesham and West Dereham.29 Following this the first aircraft (Stirlings) arrived later that year and began bombing missions and mine laying in Europe. In 1943 The Pathfinder Force brought in the Avro Lancasters and Mosquitos, which were used to carry out the ‘Light Night Striking Force’. The last operation was 1945 and the airfield closed in 1946.30 The site was sold for civilian use in February 1957.31 The only remaining section of runway is located to the east of the A10 and was part of the main east-west runway. The technical site is now an industrial estate.32
Following the end of the war the runways were occasionally used for civilian purposes. During the 1970s most of the concrete runways were taken up and used for the Downham Market bypass.33 Most of the land within the airfield has been returned to arable farmland, though traces of the runways can be identified on aerial photographic coverage of the area. At the southern limit of the study area an undated enclosure has been identified which probably represents a military building as it is located within the centre of the former living quarters or the airfield (NHER MNF15536).
The NHER records an area from which a large amount of aircraft debris was found in 2010 (NHER MNF61812). This crash site is recorded as a wide area that extends into the site.
The Norfolk HER also records the location of a milestone near the site (NHER MNF63154). This is one of only eight surviving on the former King’s Lynn, Downham Market and Stoke Ferry turnpike set up in 1770.
5.6 Undated
Approximately 200m west of the site boundary at Broomhill a series of undated cropmarks have been identified from aerial photography (NHER MNF16158). The features appear to represent enclosures and trackways. Further north at Wimbotsham (approximately 900m north of the site boundary) undated cropmarks of rectilinear and curvilinear features have been identified including two sides of a three sided enclosure following the parish boundary. A curvilinear boundary feature is situated to the east and a sub- rectangular enclosure with internal subdivisions is also present (NHER MNF16542).
Human remains (NHER MNF2445) thought to have been excavated from a sand pit are recorded on the Norfolk HER 940m south-west of the site boundary. The date of the remains was not ascertained but it was concluded that they may have been from the area of the nearby 19th century cemetery and redeposited during mineral extraction.
5.7 Setting considerations
The setting of a heritage asset is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (Communities and Local Government, 2012) as:
‘The surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral.’
In 2015 Historic England (then English Heritage) issued ‘Good Practice Advice Note 3: The Setting of Heritage Assets. The guidance includes sections outlining the definition of setting, the extent of setting and setting and the significance of heritage assets. Paragraph 4 states that:
29 Hilling. John. B. 1995. Strike Hard: A Bomber Airfield at War: RAF Downham Market and its Squadrons 1942-46.
30 Smith, Graham. 1994. Norfolk Airfields in the Second World War.
31 Bowyer, Michael J. F. 2010. Action Stations Revisited. Vol. 1. The complete history of Britain’s military airfields: Eastern England.
32 McKenzie, Roderick. 2004. Ghost Fields of Norfolk: History, Plans and Photographed remains of 32 Norfolk Airfields.
33 http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/RAF-Downham-Market
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‘While setting can be mapped in the context of an individual application or proposal, it does not have a fixed boundary and cannot be definitively and permanently described for all time as a spatially bounded area or as lying within a set distance of a heritage asset because what comprises a heritage asset’s setting may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve or as the asset becomes better understood or due to the varying impacts of different proposals; for instance, new understanding of the relationship between neighbouring heritage assets may extend what might previously have been understood to comprise setting.’
In addition, Paragraph 5 states that:
‘The contribution of setting to the significance of a heritage asset is often expressed by reference to views, a purely visual impression of an asset or place which can be static or dynamic, including a variety of views of, across, or including that asset, and views of the surroundings from or through the asset, and may intersect with, and incorporate the settings of numerous heritage assets.’
In line with this guidance, the development at Downham Market is unlikely to cause any significant adverse change to the setting of Downham Market or Wimbotsham Conservation Areas or any of the listed buildings within them.
The Wimbotsham Conservation Area Character Statement was written in 1992 and stated that there were excellent views of the village and conservation area from the south, on Lynn Road. It also states that modern development within the village has been sympathetic in scale and on the whole has not destroyed the essential character of the village.34 The site visit confirmed that Wimbotsham is perceptible on the southern approach from Lynn Road where the site is also visible on the eastern side of the road. It is anticipated that any development on the site would be visible in views from this approach but would be perceptually and physically separate. The top of the tower of St Mary’s Church is the only building in Wimbotsham perceptible from the site. Views of the rest of the village are precluded by intervening trees and mature hedgerows. The development would be seen as an extension of the modern residential development on the outskirts of Downham Market and would not encroach on the Wimbotsham Conservation Area or its rural character. Wimbotsham would remain perceptually as a separate village from the town of Dowhnam Market. The application site is also slightly lower than the level of Lynn Road. This combined with the intervening distance and vegetation along Lynn Road limits views towards the conservation area. The principal contribution of setting to the significance of the Wimbotsham conservation area is derived from the close views within the village. The development will not be visible from within the conservation area and there are no clear views of the site from within the conservation area (Plate 7). It is possible that the development may be visible in filtered or partially screened views from some upper floors of listed buildings but views towards the development from ground level within the conservation area are precluded by mature dense hedgerows and pockets of woodland.
34 Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Wimbotsham Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
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Plate 7: View from St Mary’s Church, Wimbotsham looking towards the site boundary
Downham Market conservation area is situated over 900m to the south-west of the site boundary. The Conservation Area Character Statement notes that the town cannot be grasped when being approached along the roads from the north or south. The Victorian and Edwardian villas and contemporary buildings on the Broomhill and Denver road only stretch for some 300m. The conservation area contains the historic core of the town. Where views out of the town are possible they are largely focused towards the fenland to the west. The focal point is the Market Place.35 The site visit confirmed that there will be no views of the development from the conservation area or any of the listed buildings within it. Views from the development towards the town will only include the modern houses on Bridle Lane and the petrol station.
5.8 Cartographic sources
See Appendices D, E and F for historic mapping.
The Ordnance Survey mapping was obtained from emapsite, and the remainder of mapping was photographed at Norfolk County Record Office under an all-day digital camera licence.
The 1954 Royal Air Force (RAF) Record Site Plan of Downham Market airfield was provided by the client but was originally obtained from the RAF Museum archives in London. This map provides details on the layout of the airfield and function of buildings and is shown in Appendix F.
Table 5.1 Historic Maps – Brief Overview.
Map/ Date Observations
The area within the site boundary comprised a number of irregularly shaped fields. Lynn Road, Low Road and Bridle Lane are visible on the same alignment as current mapping. The village of Wimbotsham is clearly visible, and buildings such as St Mary’s Church and Map of Wimbotsham parish stating Church Farm are evident. landowners and quantities and showing open fields, closes, Within the site boundary the palaeochannel that runs north-west/south-east across the site commons and minor place-names is visible and forms a clear boundary between the slightly higher ground to the north and the lower ground to the south. It would also appear that the field boundaries are different in 1620 these two areas. Those south of the channel are depicted as tree lined and those northwards Norfolk Record Office Catalogue appear to be different, possibly hedgerows. Ref. HARE 6812/1-2 To the east of the site there appears to be an open field system subdivided into strips, largely owned by Sir Thomas Hare and leased to various tenant farmers. All the land in the site appears to be under the ownership of the Hare family.
35 Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Downham Market Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
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Map/ Date Observations
There is a small rectangular parcel of land adjacent to Lynn Road and Bridle Lane. It appears to be labelled as ‘the gravell pitts’, however, the writing is difficult to decipher. This parcel is now occupied by the petrol station, housing and an infilled sand pit.
This map was produced 200 years later and evidently there has been some change to the Plan of entire parishes of Stow area in this time. The field boundaries within the site boundary appear to be more regular. Bardolph, Downham, Wimbotsham, The slight ridge on the northern side of the palaeochannel is still delineated by a field Shouldham, Shouldham Thorpe and boundary but appears more regular in shape. A lane on a similar alignment to the current Marham with portions of Wallington New Road is apparent. This lane is named as Potter’s Gate Lane on the Wimbotsham Parish Fincham etc. particularly showing tithe map of 1840. Part of another lane runs north/south of this between the fields. It Stow Hall estate belonging to Sir terminates at a curved corner of a field boundary near the line of the palaeochannel. Thomas Hare 1811-1818 At the east of the site boundary a longer lane runs north/south through the fields marked as Garnhams Farm. This lane is named as a Drove on the Wimbotsham Parish tithe map of Norfolk Record Office Catalogue 1840. Ref. HARE 5185, 231X2 The site and study area are part of Browns Farm and Garnhams Farm. The fields within these areas appear to be larger than those to the south in Downham Market.
There is little significant change within the site boundary. Wimbotsham Parish Tithe Map Another east/west field boundary has been added within the site boundary between fields 1840 217 and 216. Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. Outside the site boundary within the small rectangular parcel (the gravell pitts), three cottages have been built along Lynn Road. DE/TA 43
The southern extent of the site boundary was situated within Lower Wimbotsham Farm at the time of survey. These fields are under the general name of Field Sands. The Drove Lease of Lower Wimbotsham Farm (Field 10) is delineated along with three fields south of Bridle Lane. These fields are named and Lower Wimobtsham Farm Thorn Bush Furlong (Field 7), Long ?fulgar (illegible could be r furlong (Field 8)) and Fifteen Acre Town Land (Field 9). All are under arable regimes. 1847 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue The northern part of the site boundary was situated within Upper Wimbotsham Farm at the Ref. time of survey. Fields 6 and 7 are under the general name of Home Sands and are individually called New Warren Close (Field 6) and Oak Tree Close (Field 7). Other field HARE 6519-6532 names of interest are Field 5 – Bakers Homestead and Field 17 - Green Gate Furlong. Field 15 is named Baker’s Row and the Drove way is said to be pasture. All other parcels are under arable regimes.
Map of the parishes of Stow and There is little significant change within the site boundary. Wimbotsham east of the river Ouse with parts of Downham, Wallington, Bexwell and Runcton Holme, showing the lettings of the Stow Hall estate according to the leases and agreements of 1860 to 1874 1864 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. HARE 6990
Ordnance Survey Map 1:10,560 A sand pit is marked at the eastern boundary of the site, adjacent to the former gravel pit. Many of the field boundaries have been removed and the site is shown as a large open field 1886 crossed by Bridle Lane.
Ordnance Survey Map 1:10,560 There is little significant change within the site boundary. Upper Farm has been built to the north of Potters Gate Lane. The cottages further east on the lane are named as New Road 1904 Cottages. Presumably by this period the whole lane is now known as New Road.
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Map/ Date Observations
Ordnance Survey Map 1:10,560 There is little significant change within the site boundary. 1927
Ordnance Survey Map 1:10,560 There is little significant change within the site boundary. 1938
Ordnance Survey Map 1:10,560 There is little significant change within the site boundary. Notably RAF Downham Market is not delineated although it would have extended onto the site by 1941. 1950
The plan gives a detailed record of each area and functions of structures associated with the airfield. Within the site boundary the buildings include two T2 aircraft hangars, workshops, bomb stores, armament stores and dispersal areas, which are all accessed via Record Site Plan of RAF Downham the concrete perimeter track which is still extant within the site boundary. Market The majority of technical buildings are situated along Bexwell Road to the south. The three 1954 runways are to the east of the site boundary, bomb stores are situated around Rough Cover and dispersal areas and further Hangars are situated around Oak Wood. The Battle Headquarters are located within the study area 300m north-east of the site boundary on the eastern side of the A10 adjacent to New Road (part of the perimeter track).
RAF Downham Market is delineated and labelled as a disused airfield. The majority of Ordnance Survey Map 1:10,560 technical buildings are located near Bexwell approximately 500m to the south-east of the site boundary. The drove and all former field boundaries have been removed within the 1958 airfield perimeter. The concrete perimeter track extant on site is shown at the eastern edge of the site boundary.
5.9 Aerial photographs
A search of the Norfolk Aerial Photographic Library held at the Norfolk HER was undertaken to obtain aerial photographic coverage of the site and surrounding study area. The years between 1946, 1988, 1992 and 1996 were covered.
A search of the Historic England aerial photographic archive was undertaken and scanned copies for coverage dating to 1942, 1946, 1959, 1960, 1976, 1996 and 1980 were obtained.
No additional heritage assets were identified from aerial photographs. The photos provide a good source to map the development and decommissioning of the airfield, and modern satellite imaging shows that much of the airfield is still visible as cropmark features. Within the site boundary the locations of the two T2 hangars are visible as cropmarks, along with the associated access tracks.
Coverage of 1942 (RAF/HLA/479 frame 1002) shows that the T2 hangars had not yet been built within the site boundary. The concrete runways and perimeter track were present but much of the base was incomplete. The base had only been open for a few weeks at the time of the photograph (13/04/1942).
Coverage of 1946 shows that only the easternmost T2 hangar within the site boundary had been built, and only the base and access track had been laid for the second hanger (RAF/106G/UK/1601 frame 3100). By coverage of 1959 some of the runways and dispersal areas had been removed and the T2 hangars had been dismantled (RAF/58/2678 frame 149). Most of the runways and access to the T2 hangars had been covered with grass. A small area of scrub is visible between the T2 hangars within the site. It is unclear what this represents. By 1976 the T2 hangar locations are evident as scrub land. Most of the dispersal areas and runways are visible as cropmarks. By 1996 the A10 has been built and all of the land within the site boundary was under agricultural regimes. The airfield features are still evident as cropmarks (OS/96540 v245) in 1996 and on recent (2006) satellite imaging accessed on Google Earth Pro.
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5.10 Historic landscape characterisation
The NHER has carried out an Historic Landscape Characterisation for the area. The site has been broadly characterised as 20th century agriculture. This area was enclosed piecemeal by agreement between the 18th and 19th centuries. The site also falls within the former boundary of Downham Market airfield and Bomber Command base which was in use between 1942 and 1946 (NHER).
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6. Assessment of archaeological potential
Professional judgement has been used to assign a level of potential for the site to contain below ground archaeological remains from each of the time periods outlined above in Sections 6.1 to 6.4 in accordance with the following scale. f High – Archaeological features and finds of this period are likely to be represented on the site. f Medium – Archaeological features and finds of this period may be represented on the site.
f Low – Archaeological features and finds of this period are unlikely to be represented on the site.
In considering the potential for the presence of earlier archaeological remains, account must be taken of nineteenth and twentieth century developments which would have disturbed any remains which may have been present within their footprint. These include those elements of RAF Downham Market which extend to within the site boundary, two water mains which bisect the site and an earlier sand and gravel pit which is marked on historic mapping within the western part of the site.
6.1 Archaeological potential
Prehistoric: Lower Palaeolithic (pre-30,000 BP) through to Iron Age (700 BC - AD 43) Evidence for prehistoric activity within the study area has been identified through chance finds and archaeological investigation by NAU at Wimbotsham to the immediate north of the site. It is probable that the construction and demolition of the airfield could have removed any subsurface surviving prehistoric finds, features or deposits in the eastern and southern areas of the site. At the west of the site a water main crosses the site boundary form northwest to southeast near the boundary with the petrol station and housing on Bridle Lane.
The archaeological potential for the Prehistoric is therefore considered to be low to medium. If remains were to survive on the site, these would likely be of local importance.
Roman-British (AD 43 – AD 450) Evidence for Roman activity within the study area has been identified through chance finds and archaeological investigation by NAU. Though it was not definitively proven that the features were all Roman there is likely to be a settlement of some sort in the wider area based on the presence of a large amount of finds. It is probable that the construction and demolition of the airfield could have removed any subsurface surviving features or deposits in the eastern and southern areas of the site.
As a result the archaeological potential for the Roman period is also considered to be low to medium. If remains were to survive on the site, these would likely be of local importance.
Early-medieval (AD 450 – AD 1066) The early-medieval settlement and agriculture is evident in the study area, particularly to the north of the site near Wimbotsham. It is probable that the construction and demolition of the airfield could have removed any subsurface surviving features or deposits in the eastern and southern areas of the site.
The archaeological potential for the early-medieval period is therefore considered to be low to medium. If remains were to survive on the site, these would likely be of local importance.
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Medieval (AD 1066 - AD 1540) Medieval settlement and agriculture is evident in the study area, particularly to the north of the site near Wimbotsham. It is probable that the construction and demolition of the airfield could have removed any subsurface surviving features or deposits in the eastern and southern areas of the site.
The archaeological potential for the medieval period is therefore considered to be low to medium. If remains were to survive on the site, these would likely be of local importance.
Post-medieval (AD 1540 onwards) There may be some limited potential for evidence relating to post-medieval agricultural activity, but it is likely that the construction and demolition of the RAF airfield may have removed some of this potential. It is also possible that some of the areas within the site that were not built on by the airfield may have been disturbed by dumping activities.
The archaeological potential for the post medieval period is therefore considered to be low to medium. If remains were to survive on the site, these would likely be of local importance.
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7. Recommendations
This desk based study, combined with the results of the recent geophysical survey, has identified that there is a low to medium potential for the presence of archaeological remains within the site boundary. This is determined on the basis of records of previous investigations and chance finds within the surrounding area.
Subsurface remains possibly representing part of prehistoric or Romano British enclosure, or boundary ditches associated with the medieval field system, have been interpreted from the geophysical survey results. Prior to this survey, no archaeological finds or features were recorded from within the site boundary, other than the presence of the former RAF Downham Market.
Evidence of previous disturbance within the site as a result of a former sand and gravel pit in the west, two water mains which bisect the site and part of RAF Downham Market itself. These elements would have removed or truncated any archaeological remains which may have been within their footprints and whilst they do not cover the whole site they do extend across the area and taken together, would have affected the integrity of any remains which may have been present.
It is therefore unlikely that the site will contain archaeological remains with an extent or importance to affect its suitability for a residential development. A residential development within the site boundary would be unlikely to affect the settings of any designated heritage assets.
Consultation has been undertaken with the Norfolk County Council Archaeologist who has confirmed in written correspondence36 that the development site shall “…definitely require some trenching, but I agree that, based on these results, this can be carried out as the first stage of a programme of archaeological mitigatory work under a planning condition. “
Consequently a staged programme of archaeological work, including trial trenching where necessary and further targeted excavation is required but can be controlled by way of a planning condition attached to the outline planning permission. This will follow requirements specified in a detailed written scheme of investigation that will be approved by the Norfolk County Council Archaeologist which again can be controlled via a planning condition.
.
36 Email from James Albone to Simon Atkinson January 14th 2016 12:36pm
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8. References
Archaeological Solutions Ltd. 2009. Land at Low Road/ Kingfisher Road, Downham Market, Norfolk: An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. Report No. 3200
Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Downham Market Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. 1992. Wimbotsham Conservation Area Draft Character Statement
Bowyer, Michael J. F. 2010. Action Stations Revisited. Vol. 1. The complete history of Britain’s military airfields: Eastern England.
CgMs. 2011. Archaeological geophysical survey on land to the south east of Downham Market.
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.2014. Standards and Guidance for Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, Reading.
Communities and Local Government. 2012. National Planning Policy Framework.
Communities and Local Government. 2010. PPS 5: Planning for the Historic Environment: Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide.
DCMS, Scheduled Monuments: Identifying, protecting, conserving and investigating nationally important archaeological sites under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2010.
English Heritage. 2011. ‘The Setting of Heritage Assets: English Heritage Guidance’.
English Heritage. 2012. Bexwell Barn, Bexwell, Norfolk: Analysis and Interpretation. Research report series 36-2012.
English Heritage. 2012. PPS5: Planning for the Historic Environment Practice Guide.
Fincham, G. R. 1998. ‘Military Communications in the East Anglian Fenland during the Roman period: an archaeological investigation of the Fen Causeway at Flag Fen, with a discussion of the road’s origins’ in Papers of the Institute of Archaeology 9. P.19-30.
Gurney, D. 1986. Settlement, Religion, and Industry on the Fen Edge, Three Romano-British sites in Norfolk. In East Anglian Archaeology 31. Derham: Norfolk Archaeological Unit.
Hedgerow Regulations, 1997.
Hilling. John. B. 1995. Strike Hard: A Bomber Airfield at War: RAF Downham Market and its Squadrons 1942-46.
NAU. 2004. An Archaeological Evaluation on Land to the rear of 95 Lynn Road, Downham Market, Norfolk.
NAU. 2007. An archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation at Wimbotsham: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design.
Norfolk County Council. 2012. Generic Brief for Heritage Statements and Desk Based Assessment.
McKenzie, Roderick. 2004. Ghost Fields of Norfolk: History, Plans and Photographed remains of 32 Norfolk Airfields. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.
Smith, Graham. 1994. Norfolk Airfields in the Second World War.
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8.1 Internet Sources
Airfields of Britain Conversation Trust (http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/downham-market-bexwell)
BGS Geology of Britain Viewer (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.html) – accessed April 2015 Geograph (http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/RAF-Downham-Market) Milner, W. 1807. An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 7. Clackhouse Hundred and Half: Stow Bardolph. (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol7/pp439-448)
National Heritage List online (http://list.historicengland.org.uk/) - accessed April 2015
Norfolk Heritage Explorer (http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF2430-Stow-Bardolph-Hall- and-lodge&Index=2236&RecordCount=56542&SessionID=5ad92200-db6d-400f-9369-876f7326a50a)
WebTag 2014 Department for Transport Unit A3, Chapter 8 (https://www.gov.uk/transport-analysis-guidance- webtag)
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Appendix A Gazetteer of recorded features of heritage interest
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Table A1 Heritage assets within 50m study area
NHER Ref Historic Name/Description Period Record Type Monument Easting Northing England Type Ref.
Multi-period finds from garden of 71 MNF30810 Church Road Lower Palaeolithic to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562280 305070
PIT, TRACKWAY, PIT, DITCH, GRUBENHAUS?, INHUMATION CEMETERY, POST HOLE, ENCLOSURE, BOUNDARY DITCH, FIELD Multi-period finds and BOUNDARY, EXTRACTIVE PIT, METAL MNF54031 features Early Mesolithic to Post Medieval WORKING SITE?, FINDSPOT Monument 562431 304840
MNF61826 Multi-period finds Early Mesolithic to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562408 304874
Cropmark of ring MNF16540 ditch Bronze Age RING DITCH, Monument 562696 305210
MNF30225 Multi-period finds Early Iron Age to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562304 302832
Multi-period metal MNF31096 finds Early Iron Age to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 563080 303310
Roman coins and medieval buckle MNF59849 plate Late Iron Age to Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 561660 304305
MNF13951 Roman pottery Roman FINDSPOT Find Spot 561325 303956
Roman pottery MNF17577 sherds Roman FINDSPOT Find Spot 562614 305374
MNF31136 Roman coin Roman FINDSPOT Find Spot 561604 303387
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NHER Ref Historic Name/Description Period Record Type Monument Easting Northing England Type Ref.
Probable Roman MNF41331 ditches Roman DITCH, POST HOLE Monument 561419 303881
Post medieval drains and possible Roman MNF44093 pit Roman to Post Medieval PIT, DRAIN Monument 561473 303863
MNF29795 Multi-period finds Roman to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562196 304006
MNF30818 Multi-period finds Roman to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562570 305176
MNF31110 Multi-period finds Roman to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562240 303085
MNF2443 Early Saxon pottery Early Saxon FINDSPOT Find Spot 561710 303720
Early to Late Saxon MNF64125 finds Early Saxon to Late Saxon FINDSPOT Find Spot 562302 304693
MNF44864 Medieval metal finds Middle Saxon to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562918 303169
Late Anglo Saxon MNF59792 pottery Late Saxon FINDSPOT Find Spot 562176 304913
Late Saxon or medieval pottery MNF30819 sherds Late Saxon to Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562376 305328
MNF29716 Multi-period finds Late Saxon to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562110 303130
MNF11873 Medieval moat Medieval MOAT Monument 561899 305050
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NHER Ref Historic Name/Description Period Record Type Monument Easting Northing England Type Ref.
CHURCHYARD, FIELD BOUNDARY, ROAD, MNF2434 Medieval churchyard Medieval INHUMATION Monument 562317 304889
Possible medieval MNF2451 stone cross Medieval CROSS Monument 562140 302938
MNF30245 Medieval metal finds Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562347 303054
Medieval and post MNF31074 medieval finds Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562004 305409
MNF65777 Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562467 303268
TIMBER FRAMED BUILDING, POST HOLE, TRACKWAY?, DITCH, YARD, BUILDING, ENCLOSURE, MOAT, VICARAGE, BUILDING PLATFORM, FISHPOND?, MIDDEN, BEAM SLOT, STAKE HOLE, FIELD BOUNDARY, Site of medieval OCCUPATION LAYER, FLOOR, FINDSPOT, MNF11874 moated rectory Medieval to Modern FINDSPOT Monument 561556 305285
Listed St Mary's Church, Building MNF2468 1205605 Wimbotsham Medieval to Post Medieval CHURCH Grade II* 562235 304894
Listed Building Grade II and 1077854, Old Gatehouse at Scheduled MNF2469 1003963 Bexwell Hall Medieval to Post Medieval GATEHOUSE, BARN, LODGINGS Monument 563145 303523
Listed St Mary's Church, Building MNF2470 1077855 Bexwell Medieval to Post Medieval CHURCH Grade II* 563133 303408
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NHER Ref Historic Name/Description Period Record Type Monument Easting Northing England Type Ref.
Medieval ridge and RIDGE AND FURROW, FIELD BOUNDARY, MNF62930 furrow Medieval to Post Medieval TRACKWAY Monument 562009 302717
Medieval and post- medieval coins and MNF64173 post-medieval finds Medieval to Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 561893 303634
MNF12231 Bexwell Rectory Post Medieval HOUSE Building 563082 303416
Post medieval MNF14517 windmill Post Medieval WINDMILL Monument 561835 303866
Post medieval post MNF14518 mill Post Medieval POST MILL Monument 561729 303440
MNF15536 Undated enclosure Post Medieval RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE Monument 562942 303136
Site of post medieval MNF16319 tower mill Post Medieval WINDMILL, TOWER MILL Monument 562280 305370
MNF31001 Bexwell Hall Farm Post Medieval FARMSTEAD, BARN, HOUSE Building 563204 303427
69, 71, 73 Church MNF31017 Road Post Medieval HOUSE Building 562220 305010
St Edmunds churchyard and MNF38403 cemetery Post Medieval CEMETERY Monument 561344 303241
Post medieval metal MNF41012 finds Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562097 303023
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NHER Ref Historic Name/Description Period Record Type Monument Easting Northing England Type Ref.
Post-medieval token, garden of 28 Lynn MNF57243 Road Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 562312 304936
Post-medieval buckle MNF61236 and pottery Post Medieval FINDSPOT Find Spot 561383 303522
Post medieval MNF64457 extraction pits Post Medieval PIT, SAND PIT Monument 561571 303193
Listed Hill House, Lynn Building MNF48865 1342312 Road Post Medieval to Modern HOUSE Grade II* 562317 304958
The Retreat, Lynn MNF51814 1077193 Road Post Medieval to Modern HOUSE Building 561476 303509
Milestone marking MNF63154 Downham 6F Post Medieval to Modern MILESTONE Monument 561966 304328
Wimbotsham and Stow Community MNF63403 School Post Medieval to Modern SCHOOL Building 561935 305127
Downham Market MILITARY AIRFIELD, MILITARY BUILDING, World War Two BLAST WALL, GUARDHOUSE, AMMUNITION MNF2455 airfield World War Two DUMP Monument 563260 304135
MNF61812 Aircraft debris World War Two AIRCRAFT CRASH SITE Find Spot 562442 304451
Undated human MNF2445 bones Undated FINDSPOT Find Spot 561586 303186
MNF51940 1170886 58 Lynn Road Undated Building 561328 303529
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NHER Ref Historic Name/Description Period Record Type Monument Easting Northing England Type Ref.
Site with no archaeological finds Negative MNF54434 or features Undated evidence 565453 304606
Cropmarks of MNF16158 unknown date Unknown LINEAR FEATURE, ENCLOSURE, TRACKWAY Monument 561641 304487
Cropmarks of LINEAR FEATURE, RECTILINEAR rectilinear and ENCLOSURE, RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE, MNF16542 curvilinear features Unknown CURVILINEAR ENCLOSURE Monument 562474 305341
Cropmarks of possible settlement LINEAR FEATURE, FEATURE, TRACKWAY, MNF39700 of unknown date Unknown FIELD BOUNDARY, SETTLEMENT Monument 562417 304793
18th century or earlier walls of Listed garden of number 58 Building 1077192 Lynn Road Post Medieval Grade II 561372 303512
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Appendix B Previous Archaeological Investigations/ Reporting Gazetteer
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NHER Name/Description Organisation Location Easti Northi Ref ng ng
ENF131 5615 3052 13 Archaeological excavation by Norfolk Archaeological Unit at Wimbotsham, 1996. Norfolk Archaeological Unit (NAU) Moated Rectory 54 84
ENF962 Evaluation by Norfolk Archaeological Unit at Land to rear of 95 Lynn Road, Downham NAU Land to rear of 95 Lynn 5614 3038 98 Market, 2004. Road 68 63
ENF970 Metal-detecting by D. Mallet (KLMD) 2004. KLMD 5629 3031 68 18 69
ENF116 Strip, Map and Sample excavation by NAU Archaeology on Stoke Ferry to Downham NAU Archaeology Stoke Ferry to Downham 5624 3048 155 Market Pipeline, Wimbotsham, 2006. Market Pipeline 34 42
ENF116 Strip, Map and Sample excavation by NAU Archaeology on Stoke Ferry to Downham NAU Archaeology Stoke Ferry to Downham 5624 3048 155 Market Pipeline, Wimbotsham, 2006. Market Pipeline 34 42
ENF116 Strip, Map and Sample excavation by NAU Archaeology on Stoke Ferry to Downham NAU Archaeology Stoke Ferry to Downham 5624 3048 155 Market Pipeline, Wimbotsham, 2006. Market Pipeline 34 42
ENF125 Evaluation by NAU Archaeology at Addaya, St Edmunds Road, Downham Market, NAU Archaeology Addaya, St Edmunds Road 5615 3031 890 2011. 71 93
ENF128 Geophysical survey by CgMs on land to the south east of Downham Market, 2011. CgMs 5617 3025 376 29 19
ENF130 Metal-detecting by S. Brown, 2011. 5624 3048 183 08 74
ENF130 Metal-detecting by S. Brown, 2010. 5625 3051 477 70 77
ENF136 Desk-Based Assessment by Amec Foster Wheeler Environment and Infrastructure UK Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Downham Market 5623 3041 974 Ltd at land at Downham Market, 2015 Infrastructure UK Ltd 06 80
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Appendix C Figures
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March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 561000 562000 563000 564000 Key
Site boundary
Study area 1km
Scheduled Monument MNF31074 *# Grade II* Listed Building MNF16542 MNF16319 MNF17577 *# Grade II Listed Building MNF11874 H! NHER point entry MNF30819 MNF16540 NHER linear entry
MNF63403 MNF30818 MNF2434 MNF30810 NHER area entry MNF31017 MNF11873 1342312MNF48865 305000 MNF24681205605 *# MNF59792 *# MNF57243 MNF39700 MNF61826 MNF64125 MNF54031
MNF16158
MNF61812 MNF63154
MNF59849
MNF2455 MNF29795
304000 MNF13951 MNF44093 MNF14517
MNF41331 MNF2443 MNF2469 MNF51940 MNF64173 1077854 Note: The English Heritage GIS Data contained in this material was 1170886 1003963 obtained on 02/04/2015. The most publicly available up to date MNF61236 English Heritage GIS Data can be obtained from *#*# 1077193 *# http://www.english-heritage.org.uk. *# MNF14518 1077192 MNF51814 MNF12231 MNF31136 *# 1077855 MNF2470 015030045060075 Metres MNF65777 MNF31096 MNF31001 Scale at A3: 1:12,000 MNF38403 MNF64457 MNF31110 Land north-east of Downham MNF2445 MNF29716 MNF44864 Market MNF30245 MNF15536 MNF41012
303000 MNF2451
Figure 1 MNF30225 Historic environment data within 1km of the site boundary
Based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. 100001776 January 2016 37106_LON_012.mxd bowef
file: C:\Users\mike.glyde\Desktop\Misc temp work\37106 Downham Market\G - GIS\MXD\37106_LON_012.mxd - Market\G Downham temp work\37106 C:\Users\mike.glyde\Desktop\Misc file: D1 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited
Appendix D Historic mapping from Norfolk Record Office
Map of Wimbotsham parish stating landowners and quantities and showing open fields, closes, commons and minor place-names, 1620 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. HARE 6812/1-2
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Plan of entire parishes of Stow Bardolph, Downham, Wimbotsham, Shouldham, Shouldham Thorpe and Marham with portions of Wallington Fincham etc. particularly showing Stow Hall estate belonging to Sir Thomas Hare, 1811-1818 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. HARE 5185, 231X2
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Wimbotsham Parish Tithe Map, 1840 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. DE/TA 43
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Lease of Upper Wimbotsham Farm, 1847 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. HARE 6519-6532
Lease of Upper Wimbotsham Farm and Lower Wimobtsham Farm, 1847 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. HARE 6519-6532
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Map of the parishes of Stow and Wimbotsham east of the river Ouse with parts of Downham, Wallington, Bexwell and Runcton Holme, showing the lettings of the Stow Hall estate according to the leases and agreements of 1860 to 1874 Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref. HARE 6990
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March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited
Appendix E Historic Ordnance Survey Mapping
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March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: County Series N Map date: 1884-1886 W E Scale: 1:10,560
S Printed at: 1:10,560
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: County Series N Map date: 1904 W E Scale: 1:10,560
S Printed at: 1:10,560
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: County Series N Map date: 1927 W E Scale: 1:10,560
S Printed at: 1:10,560
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: County Series N Map date: 1938 W E Scale: 1:10,560
S Printed at: 1:10,560
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: County Series N Map date: 1950 W E Scale: 1:10,560
S Printed at: 1:10,560
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: Provisional N Map date: 1958 W E Scale: 1:10,560
S Printed at: 1:10,560
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Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: National Grid N Map date: 1983 W E Scale: 1:10,000
S Printed at: 1:10,000
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: National Grid N Map date: 1990 W E Scale: 1:10,000
S Printed at: 1:10,000
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: 1:10,000 Raster N Map date: 2002 W E Scale: 1:10,000
S Printed at: 1:10,000
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: National Grid N Map date: 2010 W E Scale: 1:10,000
S Printed at: 1:10,000
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend Site Details: Downham Market,Downham Market
Client Ref: EMS_292683_395995 Report Ref: EMS-292683_395995 Grid Ref: 562203, 304194
Map Name: National Grid N Map date: 2014 W E Scale: 1:10,000
S Printed at: 1:10,000
Produced by GroundSure Environmental Insight www.groundsure.com
Supplied by: www.emapsite.com [email protected]
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100035207 Production date: 10 March 2015
To view map legend click here Legend © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited
Appendix F Site Plan of RAF Downham Market 1954
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3 © AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited
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