Archaeological test pit excavations in Hindringham, Norfolk in 2007, 2014 and 2015
Catherine Collins
2019
Access Cambridge Archaeology Department of Archaeology University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3ER
01223 761519
http://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/
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1 Introduction
A total of 33 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated over a three-year period between 2007 and 2015 in the village of Hindringham in north Norfolk, as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), and run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) out of the University of Cambridge.
Hindringham is a small village, albeit in a large parish, situated seven miles northeast of Fakenham in north Norfolk. Settlement in the parish today is dispersed in character with the village itself comprising of an intermittent scatter of farms with intermediate infilling mostly appearing to be the result of development within the last century. The church lies on rising ground just on the northerly side of the most concentrated area of present settlement, c. 600m southeast of Hall Farm, a building dating mostly to the Tudor period but associated with a moat and fishponds which may be earlier. Metal detecting in the parish has revealed evidence for all periods, including metalwork of pagan Anglo-Saxon date from and are southeast of the church. The name of Hindringham, come from Old English as hinder + -inga- + ham to mean ‘the homestead of the people living behind the hills’ and was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Hindringaham, with six separate entries, including references to pasture, meadow, woodland, livestock, bee hives and one mill.
1.1 Access Cambridge Archaeology
Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) (http://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/) is an archaeological outreach organisation based in the Department of Archaeology in the University of Cambridge, which aims to enhance economic, social and personal well-being through active engagement with archaeology. It was set up in 2004 and specialises in providing opportunities for members of the public to take part in purposeful, research- orientated archaeological investigations including excavation. Educational events and courses range in length from a few hours to a week or more and involve members of the public of all ages.
Since 2015, ACA has been managed by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) and thus have been able to work more closely with the unit to deliver outreach programmes such as the community excavations at Peterborough Cathedral in 2016, community test pitting activities in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The ACA and CAU collaboration has also enabled the continuation of the education outreach projects that involve work with both primary and secondary school pupils.
1.2 The Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA)
The Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA) programme aims to raise the aspirations, enthusiasm and attainment of 14-17 year-olds with regard to higher education by making a valuable contribution to current academic research at the University of Cambridge. The three- day learning-extension course has been run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) since 2005, aimed at UK students in state schools years 9, 10 and 12.
On HEFA, participants spend two days running their own small (1m2) archaeological excavation within living villages, with the aim of applying and developing a wide range of learning skills, boosting their academic confidence and giving them a taste of life and learning at university level. They make new discoveries for and about themselves, and, in the process,
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contribute to the university's currently occupied rural settlement (CORS) research into the development of rural communities and settlements in the past. The third day is spent in the University of Cambridge analysing the excavation results in discursive learning sessions which aim to engage and challenge participants, prepare them to produce a written analysis for assessment as well as provide an inspirational and positive experience of higher education. After the field school, learners receive detailed individual feedback on their data collection, personal, learning and thinking skills developed during the fieldwork as well as their reporting and research skills exhibited in the written assignment, which will support applications to further and higher education.
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2 Methodology
The three years of test pitting in Hindringham was organised by ACA in conjunction with local residents. The excavation and records followed the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), instruction handbook and recording booklet.
The test pit digging takes place over two days, which begins with an initial talk explaining the aims of the excavation, the procedures used in digging and recording the test pit and the correct and safe use of equipment. Participants are then divided into teams of three or four individuals, and each team is provided with a complete set of test pit excavation equipment, copies of the instruction handbook and a record booklet to enter excavation data into.
The test pits were all 1m2 and the turf, if present, was removed in neat squares by hand. Each test pit was excavated in a series of 10cm spits or contexts, to a maximum depth of 1.2m. The horizontal surface of each context/spit was then drawn at 1:10 scale before excavation, a photograph taken and the colour of the soil recorded with reference to a standardised colour chart. A pro-forma recording system was used by participants to record their test pit excavation. This comprised a 16-page Test Pit Record booklet which was developed by ACA for use by people with no previous archaeological experience. Each pit and context is described and noted using the site code HIN/year, so HIN/07 for 2007, HIN/14 for 2014 and HIN/15 for 2015.
During the excavation, 100% of the spoil is sieved through a 10mm mesh (with the occasional exception of very heavy clay soils which have to be hand-searched). All artefacts are retained, cleaned and bagged by context. Cut and built features are planned at 1:10 and excavated sequentially with latest deposits removed first. Pottery and most other finds are identified promptly by archaeological experts on site who visit the test pits regularly providing advice and checking that the excavation is being carried out and recorded to the required standard. Test pits are excavated down to natural or the maximum safe depth of 1.2m, whichever is encountered first. A minority of test pits will stop on encountering a feature, (ancient or modern) which archaeological staff deem inadvisable or impossible to remove, and occasionally excavation may cease at a level above natural due to time constraints. On completion of each test pit excavation, all four sections are drawn at 1:10 along with the unexcavated base of the test pit prior to backfilling by hand and the turf replaced neatly to restore the site.
After the two days of excavation are completed, the archaeological records and finds (all of which are kept and cleaned on site) are retained by ACA at the University of Cambridge for analysis, reporting, archiving and submission to HER’s, publication and ongoing research into the origins and development of rural settlement. Ownership of objects rests in the first instance with the landowner, except where other law overrides this (e.g. Treasure Act 1996, 2006, Burials Act 1857). ACA retain all finds in the short term for analysis and ideally also in the longer term in order that the excavation archives will be as complete as possible, but any requests to return finds to owners will be agreed.
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3 Results from the test pitting in Hindringham
The approximate locations of the 33 test pits excavated in Hindringham between May 2007 and June 2015 can be seen in figure 1 below (please note that the test pits are not to scale). By year this breaks down to 11 pits excavated in 2007, 11 in 2014 and 11 test pits excavated in 2015, all part of the University of Cambridge’s HEFA programme.
The data from each test pit is discussed in this section and set out in numerical order and by year. Most excavation was in spits measuring 10cm in depth, but in cases when a change in the character of deposits indicated a change in context, a new spit was started before 10cm.
Figure 1: Location map of all the Hindringham test pits. Green is 2007, red is 2014 and blue is 2015 (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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3.1 2007 Test Pits (site code HIN/07)
The 2007 test pit excavations in Hindringham were undertaken over the 15th and 16th of May, when a total of 11 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by 39 Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from Aylsham High School, Fakenham High School, Reepham High School and Hellesdon High School (school names correct at time of participation). These were all excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by AimHigher Norfolk and the European Social Fund.
The excavations were directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins, Jessica Rippengal, Rob Hedge and Paul Blinkhorn, who analysed the pottery. The test pits were sited widely in Hindringham, spreading over 1km across the settlement to include the main north-south street through the village as well as outlying farmsteads. The test pit sites were found by local resident Phillip West, who was also on hand during the excavation to assist with the excavations.
Figure 2: Hindringham 2007 test pit location map (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Test Pit one (HIN/07/1)
Test pit one was excavated in the centre of a large grass field, east of the likely 18th/19th century farm, but close to one of the large barns, sited in the far south west of the village (Summer Green Farm, Wells Road, Hindringham. TF 97588 36121).
Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.7m. Natural was not recorded but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A range of pottery types were excavated from HIN/07/1 and include three sherds of Late Anglo- Saxon Thetford Ware recovered from the lower contexts of the test pit. Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware were both also excavated from the lower contexts in small numbers. A range of post medieval pottery wares were identified throughout the test pit and include German Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware and Figure 3: Location map of HIN/07/1 Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware.
Thetford EMW GRIM GS GRE SWSG Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 1 3 1 5 1 17 1500-1750 1 4 1 1 1720-1780 1 5 1 5 2 5 4 68 1 2 850-1750 1 6 2 10 2 5 1 2 1 7 850-1550 Table 1: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/1
The Late Anglo-Saxon activity identified in Hindringham from test pitting strategy is scattered mainly through the south of the village and also next to the church in the north. This remote activity may indicate isolated farmsteads and the field that held HIN/07/1 has probably always been open fields, but perhaps utilised from the Late Anglo-Saxon period. The nature of the growth of the village has been over a large area and these isolated dwellings have been occupied almost continuously through to the present day, with modern developments in between. The general finds excavated from HIN/07/1 are quite few and consist of mainly animal bone, oyster, mussel and cockle shells, glass, slag, ceramic building material (CBM) with clay pipe stem, tile and iron nails that were found through the six contexts. Burnt stone and worked flints were also recovered from contexts four and six and may indicate the presence of later prehistoric activity in the area, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this. Possible cobble wall foundations were also identified at the base of the test pit at 0.7m in depth. This was found in the east and south of the test pit and measured 0.5m in width and may be associated with the manor house situated next door, but further excavations are needed before an accurate date can be assigned to the feature.
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Test Pit two (HIN/07/2)
Test pit two was excavated in the open front garden of a likely 18th/19th century house located in the far south of the village (Henry’s House, Harvest Lane, Hindringham. TF 97758 35777).
Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was reached. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares and were found through the depth of the test pit. A range of post medieval wares were also excavated through the upper five contexts Figure 4: Location map of HIN/07/2 and include Glazed Red Earthenware, English Stoneware, Staffordshire Manganese Ware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware. A single sherd of Early Medieval Sandy Ware was also recovered from context three of HIN/07/2.
EMW GRE ES SMW SWSG Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 2 1 1 3 1 1 11 13 1680-1900 2 2 4 16 1 3 1550-1750 2 3 1 11 1 11 32 72 1100-1900 2 4 1 1 19 42 1680-1900 2 5 1 11 2 2 15 22 1550-1900 2 6 4 15 1800-1900 Table 2: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/2
The location of HIN/07/2 was the most southerly in the village and again appeared to be part of isolated dwellings scattered through Hindringham. The medieval activity may however relate to the site being used as fields during that time with little or no occupation until the 16th century, which changed again when the house was built in the 18th century. Large quantities of slag were excavated from the lower contexts of the test pit, which suggests industrial activity on site and most probably related to the use of when the land was used as a Blacksmiths. But as 19th century disturbances are evident on site, a specific date for this activity cannot be assigned. Additional finds of clay pipe, iron nails, slate, coal, animal bone, modern glass, CBM and seashells were also recovered and found from all seven contexts.
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Test Pit three (HIN/07/3)
Test pit three was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house set back from the main road in the south of the village (Rowans, Wells Road, Hindringham. TF 97938 35945).
Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, at which natural was reached. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The majority of the pottery excavated dates to the Late Anglo-Saxon period with 15 sherds of Thetford ware recovered from the bottom two contexts of HIN/07/3. Eight sherds of Early Medieval Sandy Ware were also excavated from the middle four contexts with very few sherds of Cistercian Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, th Staffordshire Manganese Ware and 19 century Figure 5: Location map of HIN/07/3 ‘Victorian’ wares identified from the upper contexts.
Thetford EMW CW GRE SMW Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 1 34 1 5 1550-1750 3 2 1 1 1 1 1100-1900 3 3 2 4 2 2 2 9 1100-1900 3 4 3 14 1 2 1100-1500 3 5 10 25 2 8 850-1200 3 6 5 23 850-1100 Table 3: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/3
The large amounts of Late Anglo-Saxon and high medieval pottery suggest that this site was potentially an isolated dwelling during that time as the layers from which this pottery was found, was generally undisturbed. The lack of pottery dating to the 13th or 14th century suggests that there was a most probably a decrease in activity on site, perhaps due to a shift in settlement patterns as part of the numerous socio-economic factors of the 14th century, including the Black Death. Activity following this period was not as intense as during the Late Anglo-Saxon and high medieval periods which is also reflected in the few finds that were excavated. These include small fragments of CBM, coal, modern glass, animal bone with cockle and oyster shells found from all six contexts. Potential worked flints were also identified and may be of a later prehistoric date and a fragment of lave quern stone that was excavated from context six, may potentially date to the Late Anglo-Saxon period.
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Test Pit four (HIN/07/4)
Test pit four was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern semi-detached house fronting the main road and located behind the driveway in the south east of the village (2 The Street, Hindringham. TF 98286 35926).
Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was reached. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated dates to th as 19 century ‘Victorian’ wares and were Figure 6: Location map of HIN/07/4 excavated in large numbers from the upper five contexts of HIN/07/4. Small numbers of Glazed Red Earthenware were mixed in the upper and lower contexts with both Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware recovered from the lower contexts of the test pit. A single sherd of Late Anglo-Saxon Thetford ware was also identified from context five.
Thetford EMW GRIM GRE Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 1 3 37 10 25 1550-1900 4 2 13 29 1800-1900 4 3 2 4 15 24 1200-1900 4 4 10 12 1800-1900 4 5 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 850-1900 4 6 1 4 1100-1400 Table 4: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/4
The location of HIN/07/4 on the southern extent of the main north-south road in the village that leads past the church is also part of the scattered Late Anglo-Saxon and medieval activity identified in Hindringham through the test pitting strategy. This activity was potentially focused along this road, in a linear settlement pattern along with the church, with still isolated dwellings away from the main street. The minimal activity evident after the 15th century suggests that the site was utilised as mainly fields until the more recent and intense occupation of the last 200 years. Generally, few finds were excavated and those recovered consist of small fragments of CBM, animal bone, clay pipe, oyster and cockle shells, modern glass, coal and two slate pencils, all found from the upper five contexts and suggest minimal activity on site until the 19th century. Animal bone was only excavated from context six and therefore may be an undisturbed medieval layer.
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Test Pit five (HIN/07/5)
Test pit five was excavated in a walled rear garden of a Grade II listed 17th century farmhouse, set back from the main road in the centre of the village. It was the northern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/07/11 and was sited close to the rear of the house. (Waterloo Farm, The Street, Hindringham. TF 98437 36095).
Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.32m. The test pit was abandoned at this depth due to the amount of metal rubbish in the ground. The pit was recorded and backfilled.
Two sherds of medieval Grimston Ware pottery Figure 7: Location map of HIN/07/5 were excavated from the mid-contexts of HIN/07/5, with single sherds of post medieval wares, including German Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware and Delft Ware. The majority of the pottery however, dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares that were also found from every context.
GRIM GS GRE DW Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 5 1 2 2 1800-1900 5 2 1 3 1 1 1 2 9 6 1200-1900 5 3 1 7 1 26 3 16 1200-1900 5 4 22 546 1800-1900 Table 5: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/5
Excavation of HIN/07/5 was abandoned at 0.32m due to the amount of 19th and 20th century rubbish that had been buried in the garden, which included some large pieces of machinery with scrap metal, iron nails, modern tile and glass through all four contexts. The presence of medieval and post medieval pottery, although disturbed, indicates earlier occupation was present in this area and was also found with oyster shell, animal bone, clay pipe and potential burnt stone and worked flints from context two that are likely to be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit six (HIN/07/6)
Test pit six was excavated quite central in the long front garden of a likely early 20th century cottage set back from the main road and just south of the church in the centre of the village (Primrose Farm, The Street, Hindringham. TF 98406 36236).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of c.0.6m. Natural was not found but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A range of post medieval wares were excavated from HIN/07/6 and include Cistercian Ware, German Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware and English Stoneware that were all recovered from the middle contexts and a single sherd of Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware that was identified from context one. The majority of the pottery excavated however, dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares that were also found from each context. Figure 8: Location map of HIN/07/6
CW GS GRE ES SWSG Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 6 1 1 2 2 2 1720-1900 6 2 1 3 1 4 1 10 1475-1900 6 3 1 2 1 3 24 42 1475-1900 6 4 2 5 1 8 3 47 1 10 1475-1900 6 5 3 3 1800-1900 Table 6: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/6
The presence of a clay surface at c.0.56m in depth was found to potentially be a floor of a building, possibly orientated parallel to the road (figure 9). Further excavations are needed to determine the extent and the date of the floor surface as 19th century activity has disturbed the ground above the clay floor. Part of a probable pit was also evident in the floor and contained the rear end of a cow burial but was only partially excavated due to the confines of the test pit. Despite its proximity to the church, this test pit yielded no Late Anglo-Saxon or medieval pottery, although it is possible that the clay floor has sealed any earlier deposits. The finds consist of evidence for a lot of building materials, including CBM and iron nails with modern finds of coal, glass and scrap metal recovered through the test pit. Clay pipe, animal bone, cockle, mussel and oyster shells were also mixed through the contexts, and most likely contemporary with the demolition of the building and the domestic rubbish associated with its use. Fragments of slag were also found and suggest that either on site or nearby, the land was utilised for metal working. Fragments of burnt stone and worked flint flakes were also excavated from contexts one, four and five and may indicate the presence of later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Figure 9: The clay floor surface identified from HIN/07/6 © ACA
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Test Pit seven (HIN/07/7)
Test pit seven was excavated quite central in a large grassed field to the west of the farm outbuildings for a Grade II listed 17th century house, which is sited immediately south of the church centrally in the village (Church Farm, Black Smith Lane, Hindringham. TF 98347 36338).
Test pit seven was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Very little pottery was excavated from this test pit and a sherd of English Stoneware and three sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were present in the upper three contexts. Additionally, a sherd of medieval Grimston Ware was excavated from the lower context of HIN/07/7. Figure 10: Location map of HIN/07/7
Grimston ES Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 1 1 10 1 2 1750-1900 7 3 2 4 1800-1900 7 5 1 9 1100-1400 Table 7: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/7
The location of HIN/07/7, just south of the church, lies on a slope leading away from the slightly higher ground to the north. The presence of a sherd of medieval pottery found potentially suggests limited activity at that time, potentially as open fields from at least the medieval period through to the present day. This is supported by the few finds that were excavated, which consist of a few small fragments of CBM, scrap iron, modern glass and slate with animal bone, oyster shell and clay pipe. The presence of worked flint flakes also identified from contexts four and five may be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit eight (HIN/07/8)
Test pit eight was excavated in the far west of the village in the enclosed rear garden of a likely early 20th century cottage fronting the road (The Falgate, Wells Road, Hindringham. TF 96880 36577).
Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.7m. Natural was not found but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The majority of the pottery excavated was dated as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares and were also recovered from every context of HIN/07/8. Five sherds of earlier pottery were also identified, including one sherd of Early Medieval Sandy Ware and three sherds of post medieval pottery – Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware and English Stoneware that were excavated mixed Figure 11: Location map of HIN/07/8 through the test pit contexts.
EMW GRE DW ES Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 8 1 1 4 8 8 1100-1900 8 2 1 8 12 19 1550-1900 8 3 2 4 22 45 1680-1900 8 4 9 42 1800-1900 8 6 4 14 1800-1900 8 7 1 2 4 11 1600-1900 Table 8: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/9
The prevalence of the 19th century finds and pottery excavated from HIN/07/8 indicate that the site was likely only intensively occupied during that time. Minimal activity was evident on site during the medieval and post medieval periods and suggests that the site was most probably open fields until the current house was built. The finds identified consist of a lot of clay pipe, which may be due to intensive farming periods during the post medieval, but modern glass, CBM, slate, plastic, coal, oyster and cockle shells, animal bone were also recorded through the depth of the test pit. Pieces of both burnt stone and worked flints were also recovered from test pit eight that may indicate the presence of later prehistoric activity on or close to site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit nine (HIN/07/9)
Test pit nine was excavated in the small enclosed rear garden of a modern house, set back from the main road and situated quite central in the village (Willowbrook, 19 Black Smith Road, Hindringham. TF 98266 36305).
Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Two small sherds of Victorian pottery were only excavated from the upper contexts of HIN/07/9.
Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt Date Range 9 2 1 1 1800-1900 Figure 12: Location map of HIN/07/9 9 3 1 1 1800-1900 Table 9: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/9
The finds and the pottery recovered from HIN/07/9 suggest that there was little to no activity on site prior to the 19th century. Burnt stone and potential waste flints were however excavated from context three as well as from the spoil heap, perhaps indicating the presence of later prehistoric activity on site. The rest of the finds identified, consist of CBM, modern glass, iron nails, oyster shell and animal bone, which were found from the upper three contexts and most probably generally relate to the construction and occupation of the house during the 20th century.
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Test Pit 10 (HIN/07/10)
Test pit 10 was excavated in the southern half of a small grassed field that runs parallel to the main road immediately north of the village (45 The Street, Hindringham. TF 98480 36447).
Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of 1.2m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A lot of pottery was excavated from HIN/07/10, much of which dates to the Late Anglo-Saxon period with 14 sherds of Thetford ware identified from the lower half of the test pit. Small amounts of Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware were also mixed in the lower contexts, whereas a range of post medieval wares were excavated from the upper half of the test pit. These include Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware, Staffordshire Manganese Ware, English Stoneware and Figure 13: Location map of HIN/07/10 Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware. The majority of the pottery identified however, dates to the 19th century with 33 sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares excavated from the upper contexts of HIN/07/10.
Thetford EMW GRIM GRE DW SMW ES SWSG Victorian Test Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range Pit 10 2 2 7 8 8 1550-1900 10 3 2 19 1 9 6 17 1550-1900 10 4 1 4 4 8 1550-1900 10 5 1 4 1 1 2 4 3 10 1 5 13 25 850-1900 10 6 2 7 1800-1900 10 7 1 3 1 9 1 1 850-1780 10 8 2 9 850-1100 10 9 1 3 1 19 1 2 850-1600 10 10 6 98 850-1100 10 11 2 5 1 2 850-1200 10 12 1 2 1 3 850-1200 Table 10: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/10
The Late Anglo-Saxon pottery recovered from HIN/07/10 was the first of this date to be identified near the church from test pitting strategy. The rest of the Late Anglo-Saxon activity from the village has been recorded from the southern half of Hindringham and focused along Wells Road. This area of high ground around the church was likely a focus of activity for Late Anglo-Saxon occupation, especially as large fragments of domestic Thetford ware pottery were recovered. A shift in the focus of occupation is likely during the high medieval period, although the site was still being utilised. This activity continued on site from the post medieval period, more of less continuously to the present day. The 19th century activity only disturbed the upper half of the test pit, a pattern of which was generally true during the post medieval. Undisturbed Late Saxon and medieval archaeology was identified in the base of the test pit and the pottery was found with animal bone, oyster shell and potential worked flint, also hinting
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at the presence of later prehistoric activity also on site. The finds from the upper half of the test pit contain a mix of material culture that consist of CBM, slate, coal, modern glass, iron nails, mortar and scrap iron with animal bone, clay pipe, cockle, snail and oyster shells and small fragments of slag.
Test Pit 11 (HIN/07/11)
Test pit 11 was excavated in a walled rear garden of a Grade II listed 17th century farm house, set back from the main road in the centre of the village. It was also the southern of two test pits excavated here; see also HIN/07/5, and sited away from the house, close to the boundary wall (Waterloo Farm, The Street, Hindringham. TF 98445 36084).
Test pit 11 was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Four sherds of pottery were only excavated from Figure 14: Location map of HIN/07/11 HIN/07/11 and include a large sherd of Early Medieval Sandy Ware excavated from context six. A single sherd of Glazed Red Earthenware and two sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were both excavated from the upper contexts of test pit 11.
EMW GRE Victorian Test Pit Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 11 2 1 5 1 1 1550-1900 11 3 1 1 1800-1900 11 6 1 28 1100-1400 Table 11: The pottery excavated from HIN/07/11
Much like the results from HIN/07/5, the lack of pottery and finds excavated from this test pit suggest there was activity on site during the medieval and post medieval periods, but most probably it was left as open fields until the current house was built. Not as much modern rubbish was excavated from HIN/07/11, compared to HIN/07/5 but include small fragments of CBM, animal bone, oyster and cockle shell with burnt stone and waste flint flakes that were found through the upper three contexts and could be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this. The single sherd of medieval pottery excavated from context six, indicates that this was most probably an undisturbed medieval occupation layer.
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3.2 2014 Test Pits (site code HIN/14)
The 2014 test pit excavations in Hindringham were undertaken over the 30th June and 1st of July, when a total of 11 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by 50 Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12 pupils from Fakenham Academy, Cromer Academy, Sheringham Sixth Form Centre, Paston Sixth Form College, Litcham School, Alderman Peel High School and Reepham High School (school names correct at time of participation). These were all excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by the Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge.
The excavations were directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins and Clemency Cooper with Andrew Rogerson. Paul Blinkhorn analysed the pottery. The test pitting in 2014 was a follow up to the 2007 dig, bringing the total so far dug in the village to 22 and the 2014 test pits were sited in three clusters through the north-south length of the village. The test pit sites were found by local resident Simon Hester, who was also on hand during the excavation to assist.
Figure 15: Hindringham 2014 test pit location map (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Test Pit one (HIN/14/1)
Test pit one was excavated in the open front garden to a modern bungalow in the far north of the village (15 Moorgate Road, Hindringham. TF 98755 37087)
Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.6m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from HIN/14/1 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although a number of post medieval wares were also recorded as Glazed Red Earthenware and Harlow Slipware. An additional three sherds of Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware were also found mixed through the test pit.
Figure 16: Location map of HIN/14/1
EMW GRIM GRE HSW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 1 1 2 6 2 4 1550-1900 1 2 1 10 15 30 1200-1900 1 3 3 14 1800-1900 1 4 3 5 9 85 1550-1900 1 5 1 8 1 2 8 17 1100-1900 1 6 1 3 3 61 1 4 3 16 1200-1900 Table 12: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/1
The limited medieval finds that were excavated from HIN/14/1 suggest that this area in the far north of the village may have been utilised as fields only during that time, perhaps for a nearby farmstead and the focus of settlement was likely further south as already identified through the test pitting strategy. It is possible that there was settlement along Moorgate Road from the 16th century onwards; this land probably once belonged to a neighbouring property, which continued to be used up till the current house was built in the later 20th century. The finds also recorded from the test pit consist of modern nails, slate, coal, CBM, glass, pieces of asphalt/tarmac, U shaped iron tacks, slag, concrete, glass, cockle shell, clay pipe, iron nails and bolts, a metal buckle, cockle, whelk and mussel shell, end of a shotgun cartridge, tile and pieces of scrap metal. The presence of possible worked flint may also hint at later prehistoric activity also on site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
21
Test Pit two (HIN/14/2)
Test pit two was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely 18th/19th century former public house set in the far north of the village. It was also the northern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/14/3 (The Dukes House, Moorgate Road, Hindringham. TF 98622 37071).
Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, with a sondage in one corner to confirm that natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A single large sherd of Late Anglo- Saxon Thetford Ware was excavated from the lowest context of HIN/14/2. The rest of the pottery recorded however dates from the mid-16th century and later as Glazed Red Figure 17: Location map of HIN/14/2 Earthenware, Staffordshire White Salt- Glazed Stoneware and as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
THET GRE SWSG VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 2 1 1 6 9 11 1550-1900 2 2 2 2 13 22 1720-1900 2 3 11 27 1800-1900 2 4 16 73 1800-1900 2 5 2 24 8 29 1550-1900 2 6 1 3 1550-1600 2 7 1 13 900-1100 Table 13: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/2
The single piece of Thetford Ware pottery that was recorded from the bottom context of HIN/14/2 suggests a potential for Late Anglo-Saxon occupation in the far north of the current village. Although the evidence is limited, it may represent an isolated farmstead that was also a pre-cursor to the medieval activity also along this road, as found at HIN/14/1 just to the east. The area then seems to have been generally abandoned until the 16th century, after which a small cluster of houses were built in this part of the village. The land here may well have been part of another property or it was utilised as fields until the current house was built in the 18th- 19th century. A mix of finds were also recorded from the test pit and consist of clay pipe, CBM, iron nails, glass, cockle and oyster shell, animal bone, coal, glass, tile, a metal button and mortar. The large amount of clay pipe that was found in both HIN/14/2 and HIN/14/3 suggest that this property may have been utilised as a public house at one point in its history.
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Test Pit three (HIN/14/3)
Test pit three was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely 18th/19th century former public house set in the far north of the village. It was also the southern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/14/2 (The Dukes House, Moorgate Road, Hindringham. TF 98631 37053).
Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery excavated from HIN/14/3 dates from the mid-16th century and later with small amounts of Glazed Red Earthenware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware all recorded with a large amount of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. Figure 18: Location map of HIN/14/3
GRE EST SWSG VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 1 3 3 9 1550-1900 3 2 1 3 26 27 1720-1900 3 3 1 5 13 14 1680-1900 3 4 1 2 18 58 1550-1900 3 5 8 33 1800-1900 Table 14: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/3
There was no evidence for any activity on site prior to the mid-16th century, despite the proximity of HIN/14/2 that was excavated just to the north. The small amount of post medieval finds and pottery support the notion that the site was likely part of another property at that time or that it was utilised as fields until the current house was built in the 18th-19th century. Similarly to HIN/14/2, a larger amount of clay pipe was recovered from this test pit, again suggesting that the building may have been utilised as a pub during its history. The rest of the finds also recorded consist of glass, coal, oyster, whelk, cockle and snail shell, iron nails, animal bone, concrete, silver foil. CBM, mortar, tile and half a tiny white round bead (figure 19).
Figure 19: Half a bead excavated from HIN/14/3, context 2 (scale in cm) © ACA
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Test Pit four (HIN/14/4)
Test pit four was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern bungalow on the slightly higher ground to the northern side of Blacksmiths Lane (8 Blacksmiths Lane, Hindringham. TF 98282 36386)
Test pit four was excavated to a depth of between 0.6m and 0.7m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from HIN/14/4 dates to the Late Anglo-Saxon and high medieval periods as Thetford Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware. The rest of the pottery dates to the 16th century and later as Glazed Red Earthenware and as a number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
Figure 20: Location map of HIN/14/4 THET EMW GRIM GRE VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 1 2 8 2 18 900-1900 4 2 1 6 1 6 2 4 1100-1900 4 3 2 4 1 2 1 2 1 3 5 12 900-1900 4 4 2 10 3 10 6 91 900-1900 4 5 2 7 2 4 900-1400 4 6 4 9 4 23 4 15 900-1400 4 7 1 6 3 6 1 12 900-1400 Table 15: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/4
The large amount of both Late Anglo-Saxon and high medieval pottery that was excavated through HIN/14/4 indicates that there was occupation on site between the 10th and 14th centuries, and given its proximity to the church it may have been close to the core of the original Anglo-Saxon settlement. During the 14th century however the land was abandoned, potentially due various socio-economic upheavals of that time, including the Black Death, as the test pitting has shown the majority of sites in Hindringham were also abandoned at this time. The land was likely left as open fields, with evident use during the 16th and 19th centuries before the line of houses were built during the later 20th century. There has been a great deal of disturbance on site, evident by the large mix of more recent finds through the upper three contexts especially. These consist of coal, glass, a metal washer, a metal cap, CBM, modern nails and screws, tile, iron nails and bolts, mortar, clay pipe, animal bone, concrete, melted plastic, a very small coin, a plastic button, an aluminium tube base, fragments of plastic and a battery core. Worked flints were also recorded that may indicate the presence of later prehistoric activity on or close to site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit five (HIN/14/5)
Test pit five was excavated in the small open front garden to a modern property on the southern side of Blacksmiths Lane (Willowbrook, 19 Blacksmiths Lane, Hindringham. TF 98275 36328).
Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Three sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were only recorded from HIN/14/5.
VIC TP Context No Wt Date Range 5 2 1 2 1800-1900 5 4 2 12 1800-1900 Table 16: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/5
Very few finds and pottery were excavated from Figure 21: Location map of HIN/14/5 HIN/14/5, which may be due to its position alongside the brook and still floods the area today. It likely had sporadic use during the 19th century until the current house was built during the 20th century. The small number of finds also recorded consist of pieces of scrap metal, fragments of field drain, coal, slate and CBM. A number of possible worked flints were also recorded that may indicate the presence of later prehistoric activity on or close to site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit six (HIN/14/6)
Test pit six was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a modern house on the southern side of Blacksmiths Lane. It was also the middle of three pits excavated here; see also HIN/14/7 and HIN/14/10 (21 Blacksmiths Lane, Hindringham. TF 98182 36292).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery was recorded from the upper contexts of HIN/14/6 and mainly dates from the Late Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods as Thetford Ware, Grimston Ware and Late medieval ware. A single sherd of post medieval Midland Blackware was also recorded.
Figure 22: Location map of HIN/14/6 THET GRIM LMT MB TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 6 2 1 3 1580-1700 6 3 2 7 1 2 2 11 900-1550 Table 17: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/6
The limited finds and pottery that were excavated form HIN/14/6 as well as the other two test pits also excavated on the property suggest that this site has likely been marginal to more intense activity elsewhere in the village. It has possibly only been utilised as open fields, particularly between the 10th and 18th centuries. The small number of finds also found support this notion and consist of iron nails, coal, CBM, slate and a possible tube fragment. A large amount of burnt stone was also recorded from contexts two to five, which hints at later prehistoric activity on site, particularly given the sheer quantity found.
26
Test Pit seven (HIN/14/7)
Test pit seven was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a modern house on the southern side of Blacksmiths Lane. It was also the southern of three pits excavated here; see also HIN/14/6 and HIN/14/10 (21 Blacksmiths Lane, Hindringham. TF 98187 36278).
Test pit seven was excavated to a depth of 0.6m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from HIN/14/7 dates to the Late Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods as Thetford Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware. A single small sherd of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware pot was also recovered.
Figure 23: Location map of HIN/14/7
THET EMW GRIM VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 2 1 5 2 5 900-1200 7 3 1 4 1800-1900 7 4 2 3 1100-1200 7 5 3 23 1100-1200 7 6 4 17 2 13 1100-1400 Table 18: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/7
Much like the results from HIN/14/6, the finds recorded from HIN/14/7, just to the southeast, have yielded little in the way of both finds and pottery, although the pottery identified here hints at the use of the site as more than just marginal to activity elsewhere. It is possible that in the far south of this garden there was occupation here between the 10th and 14th centuries, possibly because this area is at the top of a slight slope northwards and also far back from the brook that runs to the front of the property. Likely after the Black Death the site was largely abandoned with very little use until the current house was built during the later 20th century. The few finds recorded also consist of tile, CBM, coal, glass, concrete/mortar, pieces of scrap metal, iron nails, animal bone and nine pieces of slag from the lower two contexts, suggestive of metal working on or close to site. The presence of a large amount of burnt stone found here, with what was also recorded from HIN/14/6, suggests the presence of later prehistoric occupation on site.
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Test Pit eight (HIN/14/8)
Test pit eight was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a mid-terrace possible 17th/18th century cottage, set along the main road through the village (5 The Street, Hindringham. TF 98255 35974).
Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A single sherd of Early/Middle Anglo-Saxon pottery was recorded from HIN/14/8, which was also mixed in with Late Saxon and medieval Figure 24: Location map of HIN/14/8 wares, of Thetford Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware. A number of post medieval wares were also recorded as Glazed Red Earthenware, Cologne Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware. The vast majority of the pottery types that were recorded from the test pit however, date as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
E/MS THET EMW GRIM GRE WCS SWSG VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 8 1 1 1 30 37 1550-1900 8 2 1 19 49 87 1550-1900 8 3 3 43 55 225 1550-1900 8 4 1 1 1 2 3 44 1 2 1 2 54 195 1100-1900 8 5 2 3 36 92 1550-1900 8 6 1 8 1 2 2 25 5 10 450-1900 8 7 1 3 3 8 2 3 3 9 900-1900 8 8 1 5 1 1 1100-1900 Table 19: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/8
The land at HIN/14/8 is the first through the test pitting strategy in Hindringham to contain early/middle Anglo Saxon pottery and suggests that The Street may always have been the main routeway through the village, with settlement along it, although of course further work would be needed to confirm this. Late Saxon and high medieval occupation is also known from the site, although it was likely also abandoned after the Black Death. As the village grew during the post medieval, activity is once again recorded along The Street, particularly after the 17th century when the current cottages were built. A mix of finds were also recorded through the test pit, suggesting that there has been a great deal of likely 18th and 19th century disturbances in the garden; these consist of coal, CBM, tile, glass, clay pipe, pieces of scrap metal, iron nails, cockle, whelk, oyster and mussel shell, animal bone, concrete, mortar, slate, a metal hinge, metal buttons, half a horseshoe, a small toy wheel or cog, very old degraded glass, a china dolls house plate and slag. The presence of several pieces of likely worked flints further suggest additional later prehistoric activity also on site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit nine (HIN/14/9)
Test pit nine was excavated in a small raised lawn area behind a probable 17th/18th century end of terrace cottage set along the main road through the village (Old Orchard, 3 The Street, Hindringham. TF 98245 35969).
Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which an oil pipe was found running east-west through the test pit. The pit was extended to the north by 1m and was after which recorded as test pit 11. This pit was then excavated down to 0.7m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and both test pits were recorded and backfilled. Figure 25: Location map of HIN/14/9 A small range of pottery types were excavated from HIN/14/9 and its extension HIN/14/11, mainly dating to the Late Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods as Thetford Ware, Grimston Ware and Early Medieval Sandy Ware. A very small amount of post medieval Glazed Red Earthenware and Midland Black ware were also found with a number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. A single sherd of Roman pottery was also recorded from the extension test pit.
THET GRIM GRE MB VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 9 1 5 20 1800-1900 9 2 1 4 7 15 1580-1900 9 3 4 7 1800-1900 9 4 1 5 1 3 1 1 8 22 900-1900 Table 20: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/9
RB THET EMW GRE VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 11 1 1 23 1550-1600 11 3 5 20 5 20 5 11 900-1900 11 4 5 14 2 6 2 9 900-1900 11 5 1 10 4 18 1 2 2 2 100-1900 11 7 1 2 1 2 1100-1200 Table 21: The pottery excavated from extension pit HIN/14/11
The pottery that was excavated from both test pits shows that there was occupation on site during the Late Saxon and high medieval periods, from between the 10th and 14th centuries. Most likely after the Black Death the site was largely abandoned and probably utilised as open fields until the current cottages were built from the 17th century. The site has also been evidently well disturbed, given both the presence of a large amount of 19th and 20th century finds through the test pit as well as the presence of the oil pipe. The finds recorded from both test pit consist of coal, iron nails, glass, tile, CBM, clay pipe, plastic, pieces of scrap metal, a small worn disc/token with II etched on both sides, modern CBM, concrete, part of a horseshoe, oyster, snail, cockle and whelk shells, animal bone, a bullet casing, mortar, a thin piece of copper and slag. The single sherd of Roman pottery is also significant as it is the first Roman pottery to be identified through the test pitting strategy in the village and shows that there was activity during the Roman period in the village, although the site may have been peripheral to the settlement, perhaps as open fields, given that only one sherd was found.
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Test Pit 10 (HIN/14/10)
Test pit 10 was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a modern house on the southern side of Blacksmiths Lane. It was also the northern of three pits excavated here; see also HIN/14/6 and HIN/14/7 (21 Blacksmiths Lane, Hindringham. TF 98193 36299).
Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of 0.6m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A small amount of pottery was excavated from HIN/14/10 dating to the medieval period as Grimston Ware, the post medieval period as Delft Ware and as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
Figure 26: Location map of HIN/14/10 GRIM DW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 10 2 1 4 1800-1900 10 3 1 3 1 1 1600-1900 10 4 1 5 1200-1400 Table 22: The pottery excavated from HIN/14/10
The results from HIN/14/10 are similar to the other test pits also excavated from the property, in that little was found in the way of both pottery and finds. The pottery that was recorded shows that there was minimal activity on site during the high medieval period and then from the 17th century onwards. This may be due to its closer location to the brook at the front of the property and that the focus of early occupation on site was further south past HIN/14/7. The few finds also recorded consist of coal, plastic wrapping, cockle shell, CBM, modern tile, glass, foil, mortar and a modern screw. Several pieces of burnt stone were also recorded that with the large deposits of burnt stone found from the other two test pits on the property, suggest that there was later prehistoric settlement here, perhaps dating from the Neolithic or Bronze Age.
30
3.3 2015 Test Pits (site code HIN/15)
2015 was the final year of test pit excavations in Hindringham and were undertaken over the 29th and 30th June, when a total of 11 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by 43 Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from Alderman Peel High School, Reepham High School, Fakenham Academy, Litcham High School and Cromer Academy (school names correct at time of participation). These were all excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by the Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge.
The excavations were directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins, Laure Bonner and Jessica Rippengal with Andrew Rogerson. Paul Blinkhorn analysed the pottery. The test pits were again sited the length of the village and in between the areas previously excavated and brought the total number of test pits opened in Hindringham to 33. The test pit sites were found by local resident Simon Hester, who was also on hand during the excavation to assist.
Figure 27: Hindringham 2015 test pit location map (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Test Pit one (HIN/15/1)
Test pit one was excavated to the rear of a small raised lawn area behind a probable 17th/18th century end of terrace cottage set along the main road through the village (Orchard Cottage, 3 The Street, Hindringham. TF 98242 335970).
Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which an oil pipe was found. The test pit was extended 0.6m to the north and excavations continued as normal from this depth onward to a final depth of 0.6m at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery excavated from HIN/15/1 Figure 28: Location map of HIN/15/1 dates to the 15th century and later as German Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Cologne Stoneware and as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
GS GRE WCS VIC Date TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Range 1 1 6 14 1800-1900 1 2 1 4 6 14 1550-1900 1 3 1 9 1 2 25 93 1550-1900 1 5 1 19 1 5 1450-1800 Table 23: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/1
Despite the presence of a test pit within the same property in 2014 (HIN/14/11) which yielded evidence for activity from the Late Anglo-Saxon period onwards, this test pit produced only evidence for activity from the mid-15th century onwards with a large amount of disturbance particularly down to context three. The finds recorded consist of CBM, tile, cockle shell, glass, iron nails, coal, clay pipe, a possible bullet casing and animal bone with a single piece of burnt stone that may potentially represent the presence of later prehistoric activity on or close to site.
32
Test Pit two (HIN/15/2)
Test pit two was excavated to the rear of the lawn area and just in front of the shed, behind a probable 17th/18th century mid terrace cottage set along the main road through the village (5 The Street, Hindringham. TF 98245 35978).
Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.7m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from HIN/15/2 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, but single sherds of both Staffordshire Manganese Ware and English Stoneware were also recorded.
Figure 29: Location map of HIN/15/2
SMW EST VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 2 1 11 25 1800-1900 2 2 48 148 1800-1900 2 3 1 12 1 6 23 106 1700-1900 2 4 16 183 1800-1900 2 5 51 1830 1800-1900 2 6 3 198 1800-1900 2 7 17 360 1800-1900 Table 24: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/2
The site of HIN/15/2 was also in the same property as a test pit from 2014 (HIN/14/8) although the 2015 test pit was sited further away from the house and had a similar high level of Victorian activity and disturbance on site, which does suggest that the entire garden would likely contain large amounts of 19th century and later pot and finds. Again, perhaps due to the location of this year’s test pit being further back from the road, may explain why there was less in the way of earlier pottery compared to HIN/14/8 with only minimal evidence for activity during the post medieval period. A large mix of finds were also recorded with the Victorian pottery and consists of tile, modern glazed tile, CBM, glass, coal, iron nails, a metal nut, brick fragments, part of a horseshoe, slag, part of a metal valve, metal tube fragments, clay pipe, metal tacks, compete glass bottles and paste jars, mortar/plaster, oyster shell, rusted metal cans and pieces of scrap metal as well as pieces of possible worked flint and burnt stone that are likely to be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
33
Test Pit three (HIN/15/3)
Test pit three was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a probable 19th century former pub set along the main road through the village. It was the northern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/4 (Lion House, (north) The Street, Hindringham. TF 98325 35976).
Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
Single sherds of both Middle Saxon Ipswich Ware and Late Anglo-Saxon Thetford Ware were both recorded from HIN/15/3. These were mixed in Figure 30: Location map of HIN/15/3 with both medieval and post medieval wares of Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Grimston Ware, Late Medieval Ware, German Stoneware and Glazed Red Earthenware. The majority of the pottery that was found however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
IPS THET EMW GRIM LMT GS GRE VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 1 2 1 12 1 2 1100-1600 3 2 2 10 1800-1900 3 3 1 4 1 5 1 1 2 15 8 15 850-1900 3 4 1 7 1 8 4 53 10 31 720-1900 3 5 1 4 1 3 1100-1900 Table 25: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/4
HIN/15/3 is one of two sites in 2015 to produce Middle Anglo-Saxon Ipswich Ware pottery, the first of which to be recorded through the test pitting strategy in the village (the other site being HIN/15/9 to the north of the church) and activity continued on site through the Late Anglo- Saxon and into the medieval and post medieval periods, perhaps as one of the original focuses of occupation in the village. Disturbance is noted into the 19th century and later, likely relating to when the site was utilised as a public house as a range of both 19th century and later finds and pottery. The finds consist of tile, CBM, clay pipe, mortar, glass, a 3 prong metal fence top, coal, whelk, cockle and oyster shell, iron nails, concrete, animal bone and barbed wire as well as pieces of burnt stone and worked flint. The latter may represent the presence of later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
34
Test Pit four (HIN/15/4)
Test pit four was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a probable 19th century former pub set along the main road through the village. It was also the southern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/3 (Lion House, (south) The Street, Hindringham. TF 98326 35970).
Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
A small amount of Late Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post medieval pottery was excavated from HIN/15/4 that has been identified as Thetford Ware, Early Figure 31: Location map of HIN/15/4 Medieval Sandy Ware, Grimston Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware and English Stoneware. A number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were also recorded through the depth of the test pit.
THET EMW GRIM GRE EST VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 1 1 3 1 1 850-1900 4 2 2 6 7 19 1200-1900 4 3 1 4 1 1 1200-1900 4 4 1 4 1 3 1 8 7 13 1100-1900 Table 26: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/4
The results from HIN/15/4 are very similar to HIN/15/3 just to the north but with evidence for limited activity on site from the Late Anglo-Saxon period and through the medieval and post medieval periods. Disturbance is again noted from the 19th century, again when the land was utilised as a public house with a mix of both more recent finds and pottery. The finds consist of clay pipe, cockle, mussel, snail and oyster shells, CBM, coal, iron nails, metal chain, glass, animal bone, a metal tube fragment, brick, tile, mortar and slag with both burnt stone and worked flint pieces, the latter of which may be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
35
Test Pit five (HIN/15/5)
Test pit five was excavated in the allotment Gardens, immediately north of The Elms and west of The Street close to the centre of the village (Allotment Gardens, The Street, Hindringham. TF 98272 36170).
Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, at which natural was reportedly found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
A single sherd of Late Medieval Ware pottery was excavated from the lower contexts of HIN/15/5 and was found with three sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
LMT VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt Date Range 5 2 2 2 1800-1900 5 4 1 2 1800-1900 5 5 1 1 1400-1550 Table 27: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/5
The majority of the finds excavated from Figure 32: Location map of HIN/15/5 HIN/15/5 are modern in date that shows that there has been a lot of recent disturbances on site, most likely due to the land being part of an allotment and consist of plastic wrapping, CBM, coal, asbestos, mortar and flint, slag, plastic bag fragments, glass, animal bone, clay pipe, a central battery core, strips of plastic, tile and a metal nail with pieces of potentially later prehistoric burnt stone. The presence of a single piece of late medieval pottery also suggests that there was marginal use of the high ground here during the 15th century.
36
Test Pit six (HIN/15/6)
Test pit six was excavated on the edge of a crop field, immediately south of Primrose Farm and north of Emm’s Lane, just east of the village hall. It was also the western of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/7 (Field Edge, south of Primrose Farm, Emm’s Lane, Hindringham. TF 98411 36201).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.4m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
All the pottery excavated from HIN/15/6 dates to the mid-16th century and later with single sherds of both Glazed Red Figure 33: Location map of HIN/15/6 Earthenware and English Stoneware both identified. These were mixed in with a small number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
GRE EST VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 6 2 1 1 1800-1900 6 3 2 8 4 8 1680-1900 6 4 1 4 1 1 1550-1900 Table 28: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/6
The small amount of both finds and pottery that were excavated from HIN/15/6 suggest that the site may always have been open fields, despite its location quite centrally in the village, particularly from the 16th century onwards. Finds consist of modern field drain fragments, brick, tile, CBM, metal wire, slag, glass, mortar, coal, animal bone, chalk, melted glass and iron nails with shell fragments. Also recorded were pieces of both burnt stone and worked flint that may indicate the presence of later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit seven (HIN/15/7)
Test pit seven was excavated on the edge of a crop field, immediately south of Primrose Farm and north of Emm’s Lane, just east of the village hall. It was also the eastern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/6 (Field Edge, south of Primrose Farm, Emm’s Lane, Hindringham. TF 98430 36189).
Test pit seven was excavated to a depth of c.0.6m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
A number of both Late Anglo-Saxon and medieval wares were recorded from HIN/15/7 as Thetford Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Grimston Ware. A single sherd of post medieval Harlow Slipware was Figure 34: Location map of HIN/15/7 also found with several sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
THET EMW GRIM HSW VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 1 2 5 1 1 1200-1900 7 2 2 8 2 7 850-1900 7 3 1 1 1 5 3 4 850-1900 7 4 1 2 1 5 850-1900 7 5 1 1 1 7 850-1700 7 6 1 2 1800-1900 Table 29: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/7
The results from HIN/15/7 differ slightly from those from HIN/15/6 just to the west with evidence for activity on site from the Late Anglo-Saxon period onwards, although given the few early sherds found; the site may have been marginal to intense occupation elsewhere in the village. A mix of 17th century and later finds that were also found are likely from manuring, the finds consisting of CBM, coal, modern tile, cockle and winkle shell, animal bone, chalk and corroded strips of metal with worked flint and burnt stone, the latter of which may date as later prehistoric, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit eight (HIN/15/8)
Test pit eight was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely late 19th to early 20th century cottage set to parallel to the road north of the church. It was also the southern of two test pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/9 (41 The Street (south), Hindringham. TF 98478 36473).
Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.8m, at which natural was reportedly found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from HIN/15/8 dates to the 16th century and later as Glazed Red Earthenware, Harlow Slipware, English Stoneware and as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. Small amounts of Late Saxon Thetford Ware and medieval Grimston Ware and Late Medieval Ware were also identified through the test pit.
Figure 35: Location map of HIN/15/8
THET GRIM LMT GRE HSW EST VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 8 1 2 10 1 3 3 4 1550-1900 8 2 1 6 1 8 1 3 1 5 15 61 850-1900 8 3 1 1 4 29 1550-1900 8 4 3 17 7 21 1550-1900 8 5 2 17 1 12 4 44 1 3 1200-1700 Table 30: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/8
The two test pits that were excavated in this property, with HIN/15/8 the southern of the two, both yielded evidence for activity on site from the Late Anglo-Saxon period onwards, although this site may have been marginal until the 16th century when there was definite increase in activity. A large mix of finds were also recorded through the test pit that likely correlate with the large amount of 19th century pot that was also found through most of the contexts. These finds consist of CBM, glass, slate, foil, plastic wrappers, a plastic door hook, a plastic bread tag, strips of material, cockle, whelk, winkle and oyster shell, concrete, mortar, metal screw, iron nails, modern sewer fragments, tile, detachable metal drinks can pull, horseshoe fragments, strips of metal, a metal washer, a metal counter and animal bone.
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Test Pit nine (HIN/15/9)
Test pit nine was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely late 19th to early 20th century cottage set to parallel to the road north of the church. It was also the northern of two test pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/8 (41 The Street (north), Hindringham. TF 98481 36482).
Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of 0.65m, at which natural was reportedly found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from HIN/15/9 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares and were found mixed through the test pit. A number of earlier wares were also identified, including Middle Anglo-Saxon Ipswich Ware, Late Anglo-Saxon Thetford Ware, as well as Grimston Ware, German Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware and Figure 36: Location map of HIN/15/9 Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware.
IPS THET GRIM GS GRE SWSG VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 9 1 1 3 5 28 1200-1900 9 2 1 8 1 14 9 100 21 84 1200-1900 9 3 1 13 1 2 26 205 1200-1900 9 4 1 7 21 176 720-1900 9 5 2 2 5 47 1 2 12 21 850-1900 9 6 1 2 2 6 3 4 850-1900 Table 31: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/9
As already stated, the results from HIN/15/9 are similar to HIN/15/8 that was sited just to the south in the same garden, although this test pit yielded evidence for even earlier activity on site from the Middle Anglo-Saxon that was also one of only two sites in the village to so far produce pottery of this date (see also HIN/15/3). A large mix of 19th century and later finds were also recorded through all the test pit, most likely due to the position of the test pit close to the rear of the cottage and this whole area may likely contain a collection of domestic rubbish. The finds consist of a ceramic door knob, tile, CBM, fragments of plastic, mortar, coal, concrete, cockle, whelk, mussel and oyster shells, clay pipe, iron nails and bolts, metal wires, a metal belt buckle, a horseshoe, central battery cores, slate, animal bone, asbestos, iron tacks, end of a shotgun cartridge, part of a metal hinge, a metal washer, thin strips of metal, a metal cap and pieces of scrap metal with scrunched foil, burnt stone and possible worked flint. The latter of these may represent later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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Test Pit 10 (HIN/15/10)
Test pit 10 was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely 18th/19th century former public house set in the far north of the village. It was also the northern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/11 (The Dukes House (north), Moorgate Road, Hindringham. TF 98635 37069).
Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of 0.5m, at which natural was reportedly found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
All the pottery that was excavated from HIN/15/10 dates to the 15th century and later as Late Medieval Ware and Glazed Red Earthenware with a large number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares sherds also Figure 37: Location map of HIN/15/10 identified.
LMT GRE VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 10 1 11 15 1800-1900 10 2 1 4 12 14 1550-1900 10 3 20 92 1800-1900 10 4 4 9 1800-1900 10 6 1 2 1 4 1400-1600 Table 32: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/10
The vast majority of the finds and pottery excavated from HIN/15/10 date to the 19th century and later with the use of the property as a public house; the finds consisting of brick, tile, clay pipe, coal, iron nails, cockle and oyster shell, CBM, glass, animal bone, whelk, mussel and razor clam shells and burn stone. The small amount of both 15th and 16th century pottery also suggest that there was minimal activity on site at that time.
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Test Pit 11 (HIN/15/11)
Test pit 11 was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely 18th/19th century former public house set in the far north of the village. It was also the southern of two pits excavated here; see also HIN/15/10 (The Dukes House (south), Moorgate Road, Hindringham. TF 98635 37050
Test pit 11 was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was reportedly found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from HIN/15/11 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. Single sherds of both Grimston Ware and Cologne Stoneware were also identified Figure 38: Location map of HIN/15/11
GRIM WCS VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 11 1 3 5 1800-1900 11 2 1 3 20 21 1600-1900 11 3 16 47 1800-1900 11 4 33 88 1800-1900 11 5 1 43 1 1 1200-1900 Table 33: The pottery excavated from HIN/15/11
The results from HIN/15/11 are similar to those found from HIN/15/10 to the north with most of the datable finds coming from the 19th century and later, likely when the house was utilised as a public house. The finds recorded consist of CBM, clay pipe, a thick L shaped metal handle, animal bone, glass, tile, oyster, cockle and whelk shell, coal, iron nails and bolts, plates of metal, melted glass, mussel shell, building sandstone and slag with pieces of burnt stone. The burnt stone may actually be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
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4 Conclusions
The 33 archaeological test pits that were excavated in Hindringham between 2007 and 2015 have yielded archaeological evidence for settlement in the parish dating from the Roman period through to the modern day. All the test pit results have also added to the ‘bigger picture’ of the development of Hindringham, as well as providing new insight into the level of archaeological remains that are still present under the current village as well as looking at the wider picture of this part of north Norfolk.
Several of the 33 test pits excavated in Hindringham by ACA revealed lithics, in the form of both worked flints and burnt stones (or pot boilers as was their use). Although at the time of writing, analysis of the lithics has not been undertaken, those found here are all likely to be of a later prehistoric date, perhaps dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age and add to the several concentrations of burnt stones in particular that have already been found in the parish and have been recorded on the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER). It seems that prehistoric activity in general is well documented on the HER as scatters of additional lithic material, with people no doubt attracted to this area due to the free draining chalk soils and the rise of the Hindringham Stream, just west of St Martin’s church, and is a tributary of the River Stiffkey, which it joins to the north of Great and Little Walsingham that then joins the North Sea at Blakeney.
Only one test pit, HIN/14/11, yielded a single sherd (10g) of Romano-British pottery and was sited in the south of the village at No.3 The Street. With only a single sherd found, this can only hint at the presence of activity here, rather than definite occupation, although the size of the sherd does at least suggest that this activity was probably in the immediate vicinity. This supports what has again been recorded on the HER, as several settlement areas have been identified through fieldwalking and metal detecting, although these were mainly sited to the west and south of the modern village and so possibly contemporary with pottery found during the test pitting (for example: NHER 25773, 28005, 28470 and 29133) as is the line of a possible Roman road (NHER 2087), visible as an earthwork and close the northern parish boundary and hints at Hindringham perhaps was a well-connected settlement during the Roman period.
In the neighbouring property from where the sherd of Roman pottery was found, HIN/14/8 was excavated and from which was found the only sherd of Early Anglo-Saxon pottery from the three years of test pitting in Hindringham. On the HER, Early Anglo-Saxon finds have been identified from various fields surrounding the village, but the presence of the hand-made sherd of Early Saxon pot from the south of the village, suggests that there may have been a continuation of activity in this area after the Roman withdrawal from Britain, although further excavations would be needed to prove this.
It was during the 2015 excavations that the first Middle Anglo-Saxon pottery was recorded from the test pitting, with one sherd found in the south of the village (HIN/15/3), and again in the same area as the Early Anglo-Saxon material was found, suggesting this area continued with occupation into the Middle Anglo-Saxon period as well. A second sherd was also recorded from further to the north and on the slightly higher ground, at a site just north of the church (HIN/15/9), and so the Middle Anglo-Saxon pot found from both these test pits certainly hints that the origins of Hindringham, may well have been from two separate focal points, from the 8th century onwards.
From these two likely foci, an expansion of the settlement was noted into the Late Anglo- Saxon period, by both an increase in the number of test pits that produced pottery of this date and also the overall number of sherds found. All the test pits sited immediately north of the church produced Late Anglo-Saxon pottery, as did six out of the eight test pits in the southern
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cluster, some of which also yielded a large amount of pottery, which would indicate settlement in the immediate vicinity. For the first time, Late Anglo-Saxon activity was also found to be spread through the village, including starting to connect the original two separate areas of Middle Saxon occupation as well as a number of outlying farmsteads and suggesting that the village was quite dispersed in nature even during the 9th century.
This pattern of settlement continued into the high medieval as well as expanding, particularly to the north and there was also evidence for new outlying sites being occupied for the first time too. A greater increase was noted in the activity between the two original focal points, expanding to potentially create the staggered crossroads as seen today, the main area of settlement being sited along the north-south road, The Street, but also expanding to include Blacksmiths Lane to the west (and leading to Hindringham Hall) and then Emm’s Lane to the east. It seems likely that Hindringham was affected by the various socio-economic upheavals of the 14th century, including the Black Death, as a large decrease in the amount of later medieval pottery was recorded from the test pits when compared to the amount found, dating as high medieval. Some of the outlying sites were still in use, but it is likely that there was a lot of contraction and shifting of the settlement at this time, although the original Late Anglo- Saxon and medieval areas of original settlement continued to be settled.
The village recovered well during the post medieval, with the excavations showing that a lot of new farmsteads were again appearing as well as re-settlement within the village, although it still remained a small rural settlement, but would have also started to take the layout that can still be seen today. The majority of the settlement today in Hindringham is 20th century infill development.
5 Maps
Much of the value of the test pit data from currently occupied rural settlements are derived from a holistic consideration across the entire settlement. Maps showing a range of the data from the test pit excavations in Hindringham in 2007, 2014 and 2015 are included below.
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Figure 39: Distribution of the Romano-British pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Figure 40: Distribution of the Early Anglo-Saxon pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Figure 41: Distribution of the Middle Anglo-Saxon pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Figure 42: Distribution of the Late Anglo-Saxon pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Figure 43: Distribution of the High Medieval pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Figure 44: Distribution of the Late Medieval pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Figure 45: Distribution of the Post Medieval pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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Figure 46: Distribution of the 19th century pottery excavated from the Hindringham test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
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