An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Manor Farm, Haddiscoe, Norfolk

Report № 1857

An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment of land at Manor Farm, Haddiscoe, Norfolk

Peter J. Watkins BA AIFA

June 2008

BAU 1857

NAU ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT CHECKLIST

Project overseen by Andy Hutcheson

Draft completed Peter Watkins 27/05/2008

Graphics completed Michael Feather 04/06/2008

Edit completed Richard Hoggett 06/06/2008

Signed off Andy Hutcheson 09/06/2006

NAU Archaeology Scandic House 85 Mountergate Norwich NR1 1PY

T 01603 756150 F 01603 756190 E [email protected] www.nps.co.uk www.nau.org.uk Contents Summary ...... 1 1.0 Introduction...... 2 2.0 Methodology...... 3 3.0 Geology and Topography ...... 3 4.0 Archaeological and Historical Background...... 4 4.1 Prehistoric ...... 4 4.2 Roman...... 6 4.3 Anglo-Saxon...... 10 4.4 Medieval and Post-medieval ...... 10 4.5 Modern ...... 13 5.0 Cartographic Evidence...... 13 5.1 Faden’s map of 1797...... 13 5.2 Bryant’s map of 1826...... 14 5.3 Enclosure Map ...... 14 5.4 Tithe Map ...... 14 5.5 1st Edition O.S map...... 15 6.0 Archaeological Observations ...... 15 7.0 Discussion...... 15 7.1 Prehistoric ...... 15 7.2 Roman...... 15 7.3 Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post-medieval ...... 16 8.0 Conclusions ...... 17 Acknowledgements...... 17 Bibliography ...... 18

Figures Figure 1 Site location Figure 2 Prehistoric evidence Figure 3 Roman evidence Figure 4 Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post-medieval evidence Figure 5 Evidence from the immediate vicinity of the proposed extracted site Figure 6 Faden’s map of 1797

Location: Manor Farm, Haddiscoe, Norfolk District: South Norfolk Grid Ref: TM 438 972

Summary This desk-based assessment considers the archaeological potential of a proposed aggregate extraction site near Manor Farm, Haddiscoe, Norfolk. Overall, the archaeological potential of the site appears to be relatively high, with the available evidence suggesting that significant remains are likely to be present. The cropmarks of at least one possible ring-ditch have been identified on the site, potentially one of a number of later Neolithic or earlier Bronze Age round barrow sites that have been identified along the higher ground that borders the Haddiscoe Marshes. There is no direct evidence to suggest that further prehistoric remains might lie beneath the site, although the possibility cannot be discounted, given that the area has yet to be subjected to detailed field survey. The Haddiscoe area appears to have seen considerable activity during the Roman period, as evidenced by a reasonable quantity of finds and numerous cropmark enclosures, field boundaries and trackways. There is direct evidence, in the form of both cropmarks and artefactual material, that the site itself saw activity during this time. Aspects of the evidence suggest that the site may have been more than simply an outfield location, although the precise nature of activity, and consequently the likely nature of the archaeological resource, remains to be determined. In spite of its close proximity to the parish church of St Mary’s there is little direct evidence to suggest that the site was other than open arable land during the Anglo-Saxon, medieval or post-medieval periods. There are, however, historical references to a Knights Templar preceptory at Haddiscoe, possibly located near the church. This preceptory could have been a fairly extensive complex and it is possible that evidence relating to it lies within the bounds of the proposed extraction area. The limited nature of recent activity on the site enhances its archaeological potential, as the cropmark features and any additional remains are likely to be reasonably well preserved.

2 1.0 Introduction This desk-based assessment considers the archaeological potential of a proposed mineral extraction site located near Manor Farm, Haddiscoe (Fig. 1). The proposed extraction site comprises two areas: a main extraction area to the north of the B1136 Loddon Road and a smaller plant site to the south. The two areas lie within open arable land and cover a total area of approximately 19,4500m2. This archaeological assessment considers the potential nature, significance and preservation of archaeological remains within the bounds of the proposed development. The potential impact of the proposed development on surviving archaeological remains was not considered. This work follows the guidelines set out in Planning and Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning (Department of the Environment 1990) and other relevant guidance of the undertaking of archaeological desk-based assessments. No fieldwork has been carried out in connection with this study, nor has reference been made to Listed Buildings information or other present planning constraints. This report was commissioned and funded by Stephen M. Daw (MRICS), acting on behalf of Earsham Gravels Limited.

2.0 Methodology A large proportion of the information in this report was derived from Norfolk Historic Environment Records (NHER). In order to best assess the likely archaeological potential of the site all NHER records that fell within a 2.5km radius of the site were examined. A relatively large number of records fell within this radius, including a large number of cropmark sites identified from aerial photographs during the work of the National Mapping Programme (NMP). The records discussed below are those deemed to be pertinent to the assessment of the site in question. For periods where past land-use is reasonably well understood only evidence from relatively close to the site was deemed to be of relevance. For earlier periods, where the location and nature of past activity in is less well understood, a much greater spread of evidence was considered. Patterns of past activity were not necessarily continuous across the River Waveney and a selective approach was therefore taken to sites that fell on the opposite side of the Haddiscoe Marshes. All relevant and readily available documentary and cartographic sources were examined. A variety of other sources, including books, archaeological reports and web-based resources were also consulted in order to establish the archaeological and historical context of the site.

3.0 Geology and Topography Haddiscoe lies within the broadland region, to the west of a series of low-lying marshes that flank the River Waveney. The village lies on a strip of higher ground between marshes to the north and a minor water course, the Landspring Beck, to the south. The proposed extraction site itself lies to the north-west of the village,

3 on land that rises gently towards to the west and south, reaching a maximum elevation of approximately15m OD. The underlying geological deposits are characterised by glacial sands and gravels, the site lying to the east of the boulder clay plateau that dominates the geology of southern Norfolk (Funnell 2005). The underlying solid geology of the area consists of chalk (BGS 1985). The character of this area was dramatically changed during the Roman period when a phase of marine transgression led to the formation of a large estuary at the mouth of Bure and Yare rivers (Murphy 2005). These estuarine conditions extended as far as Haddiscoe, flooding the area of the present-day marshes. Peat deposits contemporary with the pre-Roman landscape now lie buried beneath large quantities of alluvial silt and clay, deposited as the marine water receded (Williamson 2005).

4.0 Archaeological and Historical Background The following section summarises, by period, the available archaeological and historical evidence for the survey area. All NHER records and other significant sites discussed in the text are shown on Figures 2–4. Evidence from the immediate vicinity of the site itself is shown in more detail on Figure 5.

4.1 Prehistoric A number of the cropmarks sites identified in and around Haddiscoe appear to represent the remains of prehistoric monuments (Fig. 2). These include a sub- rectangular, elongated enclosure identified to the north of Low Farm, which may be the remains of a Neolithic long barrow or mortuary enclosure (NHER 44860). A number of cropmark ring-ditches identified within the survey area are likely to be the construction ditches of once-upstanding round barrows. These burial monuments were constructed during the later Neolithic and earlier Bronze Age and are relatively numerous across the county (Ashwin 2005). The ring-ditches that lie within the survey area are summarised in Table 1 below. NHER Grid Ref Parish Details 11681 TM 4465 9652 Haddiscoe Single ring-ditch, surrounded by fragmentary linear cropmarks 17349 TM 436 963 Haddiscoe Single ring-ditch 12140 TM 4600 9581 Aldeby Incomplete ring-ditch 19564 TM 4166 9728 Haddiscoe Single ring-ditch 32911 TM 4141 9617 Raveningham Slightly sub-circular ring-ditch 44866 TM 4555 958 Aldeby Single, apparently interrupted ring-ditch 44868 TM 4586 9538 Aldeby Single ring-ditch 49618 TM 4136 9573 Toft Monks Possible ring-ditch, although sub-circular and not necessarily the remains of a barrow 49624 TM 4293 9702 Haddiscoe Probable dispersed barrow group located 49625 TM 4284 9710 approximately 800m to west of site. 49626 TM 4307 9724 49627 TM 4307 9707 49628 TM 4299 9678 49673 TM 4282 9718 49678 TM 4388 9735 Haddiscoe Single ring-ditch Table 1. Ring-ditches identified within the survey area.

4 5 Significantly, one of these ring-ditches lies within the bounds of the proposed main extraction area (NHER 49678). This feature was, however, recorded from an oblique photograph and as such its identification was slightly more tentative than other, clearer examples within the survey area. Prehistoric artefactual material recovered from the survey area provides further evidence for activity during the Neolithic and Bronze Age. There is also evidence to suggest at least a degree of activity during the Iron Age. These finds are summarised in Table 2 below.

NHER Grid Ref Parish Details 10702 TM 4395 9689 Haddiscoe Neolithic flints reportedly recovered from grounds of St Mary’s Church, Haddiscoe. 11854 TM 4454 9626 Haddiscoe Prehistoric flint flake

12635 TM 4408 9684 Haddiscoe Neolithic flaked and polished axehead found during excavation for septic tank 25470 TM 4182 9831 Thurlton Neolithic flint sickle found during construction of bowling green 24172 TM 44 95 Aldeby Bronze Age socketed axe recovered during metal- detecting 25572 TM 42 Thurlton Iron Age Nauheim-derivative brooch 28211 TM 42 96 Haddiscoe A number of metal-detecting finds including a Bronze Age bronze awl. Iron Age objects including a harness bit, a decorated dagger pommel, bronze button loop fastener and an enamelled bronze ?shield stud. 34820 TM 42 98 Thurlton Iron Age terret ring found during metal-detecting at site of new electricity pylon Table 2. Finds of prehistoric date. During the construction of new electricity pylons within the marshes the remains of a brushwood causeway were revealed within the peat that lies beneath the alluvial deposits (NHER 10704/10705). This causeway, tentatively interpreted as Bronze Age (Green 1961), was identified at two points and appeared to extend out into the marshes.

4.2 Roman Many of the cropmarks that have been identified in the area are thought likely to be Roman and suggest the presence of a reasonably complex and developed landscape at this time (Fig. 3). This appears to be supported by the artefactual material that has been recovered, with Roman objects having been found at many sites within Haddiscoe and its surrounding parishes. Roman artefactual material has been recovered in small quantities from a number of other locations within the survey area, largely as a result of amateur metal- detecting. These finds are summarised in Table 3 below. Several sites within the survey area appear to have seen particularly intensive Roman activity and are potentially the location of settlements. A notable concentration of evidence has, for example, been recovered to the south-east of Haddiscoe, on the opposite bank of the Landspring Beck. Fieldwalking in this location revealed concentrations of pottery, which, together with the presence of tile, suggests that some form of settlement was located here (NHER 12138). A

7 large number of cropmarks have also been identified at this location, including a double-ditched enclosure (NHER 44862), several further enclosures (NHER 44859; 44861; 44865), ditched boundaries and trackways (NHER 44863; 44870).

NHER Grid Ref Parish Details 15615 TM 44 95 Aldeby Roman pottery, coins iron-working waste and other metal objects recovered during metal-detecting and fieldwalking 21974 TM 42 97 Haddiscoe Roman coins recovered during metal-detecting 24253 TM 44 95 Aldeby Roman coin 33285 TM 42 95 Toft Monks Various Roman finds found during metal-detecting. These include coins, a green glass intaglio ring and a possible bracelet terminal 36225 TM 43 98 Thurlton Roman coins recovered during metal-detecting 42654 TM 43 96 Haddiscoe Possible Roman coin recovered during metal- detecting 44070 TM 44 97 Haddiscoe Single Roman coin found during metal-detecting Table 3. Isolated finds of Roman date An area to the east of Low Farm also appears to have been a focus for Roman period activity. Cropmarks of field-systems, enclosures and trackways have been identified at this location, the majority of which are likely to be of Roman date (NHER 12139). One group of cropmarks, consisting of two large, conjoined and subdivided enclosures is likely to represent the remains of a Roman farmstead (NHER 44888). Many of the cropmark field-system fragments identified near this site may well also be of Roman date (NHER 44889; 44890). Several Roman coins and brooches have been found in the area of these cropmarks (NHER 23713; 24557). A series of rectilinear cropmark enclosures indentified to the south-east of Thurlton may also represent the remains of Romano-British farmstead (NHER 49674). The cropmark evidence suggests that further Roman remains lie in the area between these possible settlement foci, in the vicinity of Haddiscoe itself. Numerous linear cropmarks have also been identified to the south of the proposed extraction site, on the opposite side of the Landspring Beck, many of which are though likely to be of Roman date (NHER 49661; 49662). Also of possible Roman date are a number of fragmentary enclosures and field boundaries that have been recognised within filed to the west of Haddiscoe (NHER 49629; 49658; 49659). Significantly, a large number of potentially Roman cropmark features have also been mapped within the area of the proposed plant site (NHER 49680). These cropmarks are shown on Figure 5. These features include several enclosures and a number of other boundaries. A semi-circular cropmark is also present, which may be the remains of a ring-ditch. It is possible that this feature is the remains of another prehistoric monument as its diameter is similar to that of the more complete ring-ditches identified within the survey area. An alternative explanation is that this feature is the gully associated with some form of domestic structure. Although circular huts are typically prehistoric, their use appears to have continued into the Roman period, with examples being excavated at several sites such as the A149 Snettisham Bypass (Flitcroft 2001). It is also entirely possible that some of what is clearly a multi-period group of cropmarks are in fact of later prehistoric rather than Roman date.

9 Several small sub-square enclosures were also visible on aerial photographs of the proposed plant site. It is likely that these enclosures had a specific function, although whether this was agricultural, domestic or something more unusual is uncertain. Elsewhere in the county similar features have been attributed a ritual function, being seen as mortuary enclosures (e.g. Ashwin and Bates 2000). Interestingly, a similar-sized enclosure has been identified approximately 550m to the west of the site (NHER 49666), within the main cluster of prehistoric ring- ditches. Although the postulated date of these cropmarks is based largely on their form, activity on the site during the Roman period is also indicated by some of the artefacts that have been found. Metal-detecting within the northern portion of the proposed extraction area (NHER 24146) has revealed a number of Roman artefacts including a brooch, coins and other objects. A large Roman coin hoard, consisting of 412 individual coins, has also been recovered from within the bounds of the proposed extraction area (NHER 28212). A Roman ring, a brooch and a large quantity of pottery sherds were also recovered from this spot.

4.3 Anglo-Saxon Finds of Anglo-Saxon date to be recovered within the survey area are summarised in Table 4 below (Fig. 4).

NHER Grid Ref Parish Details 12138 TM 4541 Aldeby Middle Saxon Ipswich Ware pottery found during 9616 fieldwalking 19353 TM 41 98 Thulton Two Late Saxon disc brooches 24146 TM 43 97 Haddiscoe Possible Early Saxon razor 36225 TM 43 98 Thurlton Late Saxon (or possibly early medieval) bell recovered during fieldwalking 36226 TM 42 98 Thurlton Late Saxon strap fitting Table 4. Finds of Anglo-Saxon date. At present there is virtually no evidence to suggest that the extensive activity seen during the Roman period endured into the Early Saxon period, with only a single artefact of this date so far recovered from within the survey area. It is of note, however, that this possible razor was recovered from within the bounds of the proposed extraction area (NHER 24146). Evidence for Middle and Late Saxon activity, while present, is also limited to small, dispersed quantities of artefactual material. Although the physical evidence is limited, it is likely that the present-day settlement distribution was largely established by the Late Saxon period, with Haddiscoe and its surrounding villages all being recorded at Domesday (Brown 1984). It is also notable that the Haddiscoe church (NHER 10702) incorporates a round tower of probable 11th-century date, as does St Mattias’ church in nearby Thorpe-by Haddiscoe (NHER 10703) and St Margaret’s church in Toft Monks (NHER 10711).

4.4 Medieval and Post-medieval There is no evidence to suggest that the medieval settlement pattern within the survey area was greatly different from that seen today.

10 11 Some of the cropmarks identified in the area suggest that there has been at least a degree of change in how the landscape was arranged. Soil-marks of a wide linear feature, located to the west of the site, appear to be the remains of a medieval (or earlier) hollow way (NHER 10709). Cropmarks of another road or trackway have also been identified to the south of the site (NHER 17350). Both of these routeways are, however, not entirely at odds with the existing road-layout and their loss is likely to have resulted from minor reworkings of the landscape, rather than significant changes. The nature of the site itself during the medieval period is unclear. The only evidence of this date to be found within the site are a small number of metal objects including coins and a 13th-century mount, possibly from a casket (NHER 24146). Medieval objects such as these have been recovered from many fields within the survey area and the majority are likely to have be accidental losses or material that was spread during the manuring of fields. Nearby Haddiscoe Manor and Manor Farm are likely to take their names from what would have been the capital manor of Haddiscoe during medieval times. Unfortunately, Francis Blomefield’s Essay towards a topographical history of the county of Norfolk (1808), which is one of the main sources on early manorial history, makes no direct mention of this manor. We must therefore make the assumption that any structures associated with the medieval manor lay on the same site as the present-day buildings, which are post-medieval. Something that is recorded by various sources is the presence of a Knights Templar preceptory at Haddiscoe. This preceptory is known to have been in existence by 1218, with King Henry III (1216–72) known to have been a benefactor (Blomefield 1808). What happened to this preceptory after the abolition of the Order of the Knight Templar in 1312 is unclear, although it is known to have been in the custody of the Sheriff of Norfolk, Thomas de St Omer, in 1326 (Le Strange 1973). The location of the preceptory is not known, although it is thought to have lain near to St Mary’s church (Le Strange 1973). As such, there is at least a possibility that this preceptory lay within the bounds of the proposed extraction area. One piece of anecdotal evidence which may be of relevance is the discovery of the foundations of a ‘massive wall’ found by workmen during the laying of water pipe in or near the site in the vicinity of Crab Apple Lane (noted under NHER 24146). The date of this wall is unknown and while it is tempting to link it to the preceptory, it is hard to see how its location could be so unclear, were it to have been constructed of walls this size. From at least the later medieval period onwards there is little to suggest that the site was occupied by anything other than agricultural fields. There is, however, some evidence that their arrangement differed somewhat from that seen today. Cropmarks suggest that the site was once crossed by a trackway which ran north- north-east from the junction of Church Lane and the B1136 Loddon Road. This trackway and a number of further, parallel linear cropmark are thought likely to be post-medieval (NHER 49679). It has been suggested that this trackway provided access to an old extraction pit that lies to the north of manor farm. This seems unlikely, given that a Gravel Pit Lane runs to the north-eastern corner of the pit. As it is clear that the cropmark group within the proposed plant site (NHER 49680) is multi-phase, it is more than possible that at least some of these features may be medieval or post-medieval.

12 4.5 Modern A number of WWII-era installations and defensive structures are recorded within the survey area, including spigot mortar bases, tank traps and pillboxes. These defences are mainly concentrated on the northern side of the marshes in the vicinity of Haddiscoe railway station. Aerial photographs suggest that a WWII searchlight battery and associated slit trenches were located immediately to the north of the proposed extraction area (NHER 49660; Fig. 5). There is, however, no evidence to suggest that any contemporary features or structures were present within the site itself.

5.0 Cartographic Evidence The following section describes the evidence that could be gleaned from the various 18th- and 19th-century maps that depict the survey area. Significant evidence recovered from these sources is depicted in Figure 5.

5.1 Faden’s map of 1797 Faden’s (Barringer 1989) is the earliest of the maps to be consulted (Fig. 6). The Haddiscoe area appears to be broadly similar to its present form by this time, although there are notable differences, particularly in the road layout. The present- day Loddon Road, for example, appears to have been little more than a track and the road to Yarmouth can be seen to cross the Landspring Beck to the west, rather than the east, of the church.

13 No structures or significant features are marked in the area of the site, although the proposed extraction area is shown as being crossed by two route-ways. Neither survives to this day, although it is possible that the north-north-west aligned road corresponds with the linear cropmarks visible in this part of the site (NHER 49679). Although the age of these routes is unknown, they also serve to indicate that the present-day form of these fields is not earlier than post-medieval in origin.

5.2 Bryant’s map of 1826 Bryant’s map (Barringer 1998) shows the site in largely its present-day form. The route-ways visible on Faden’s map are now gone and Crab Apple Lane can be clearly seen running to the west of the site. No structures or features are marked within the bounds of site, although like Faden’s, this is not a detailed map.

5.3 Enclosure Map The enclosure map of 1809 is the first to depict the site in any great detail, with both areas shown as lying within arable fields. Although there has been a degree of subsequent boundary loss, the number and form of the fields is broadly similar to that seen today. This can be clearly seen when the boundaries are compared with the modern mapping data (Fig. 5). It is likely that many of the field boundaries were relatively new at the time this map was drawn, respecting routeways such as Crab Apple Lane which we know from earlier maps to be 19th century. Some boundaries are, however, likely to be relics of an earlier field system, such as the small plots to the north of Manor Farm, the western edge of which follows the line of the old road that ran north from Church Lane. The land covered by the site itself is shown as being held by a number of individuals, with much of the proposed extraction area being the property of George Grimmer, the then lord of the manor. Whether this land was held by the manor during earlier times is unclear, although it seems probable, given its proximity to presumed site of the manor house itself. One of the field boundaries shown on this map can be linked to a cropmark identified within the area of the proposed plant site (see Fig. 5). It is possible that other similarly-aligned cropmarks are broadly contemporary with this boundary; perhaps being lost during the process of enclosure.

5.4 Tithe Map This map (produced in 1841) shows the area to be largely unchanged from when the enclosure map was drawn, although there have been a number of small changes to the layout of the fields. The extraction pit to the north of Manor Farm can now be clearly seen. An irregular feature to the west of Crab Apple Lane may be site of an additional pit. No structures or other features are marked within the bounds of the site itself.

14 5.5 1st Edition OS map The first Ordnance Survey map of the area, produced in the 1880s, shows the area to have seen little change since the time of the tithe map. No structures or other features are marked within the bounds of the site itself and there are few significance differences from how it appears today.

6.0 Archaeological Observations Apart from a few small-scale watching briefs little in the way of archaeological fieldwork has been undertaken within the survey area. No formal archaeological work has been undertaken within the bounds of the proposed development, although it has been subjected to limited metal-detecting on at least two occasions.

7.0 Discussion

7.1 Prehistoric The number of cropmark ring-ditches present within the survey area strongly suggests that a later Neolithic/earlier Bronze Age barrow group once stretched along the raised ground at the edge of the marshes. This is a typical situation for such monuments, with the majority of the known examples in Norfolk being clustered on areas of higher ground overlooking major water courses (Ashwin 2005). The cropmark evidence suggests that at least one such ring-ditch may survive within the bounds of the proposed extraction site. An important question is whether or not further prehistoric remains could be expected to lie within the bounds of the site. Work across the county has shown that barrows did not necessary lie within delimited ‘landscapes of the dead’ and were often the focus for other forms of activity from their time of construction onwards (Ashwin 2005). Although the artefactual material shows this area to have been occupied from the Neolithic onwards, the quantities are surprising low given the number of monuments apparently present. There is certainly nothing at present to suggest that the site itself saw any form of intensive activity. This said, the absence of evidence may be at least in part due to the lack of systematic field survey within the area.

7.2 Roman Haddiscoe would have remained habitable as sea levels rose during the Roman period and the cropmark evidence suggests that much of survey area was utilised during this time. Cropmarks identified to the south of the Loddon Road suggest that Roman remains can be expected to survive within the bounds of the site, although their precise nature is uncertain. There is not sufficient evidence to suggest that a settlement site was present, although the variety of the cropmarks, coupled with the presence of artefactual material, suggests that it may well have been more than simply an out-field location. As discussed above, the lack of systematic field survey within the vicinity of the site makes it hard to assess whether the artefacts recovered to date give a true reflection of the intensity of past activity.

15 A key question is how far the remains visible to the south of the Loddon Road extend northwards, into the main extraction area. Although the cropmarks are sparser to the north, this does not necessarily mean that similar remains are not present in this area. It is entirely possible that ground conditions (crop regimes, soil depth and so forth) have simply not been as good for the formation of cropmarks as they were to the south. It is also noted within the NMP records that only poor quality photos were available for much of the main extraction area. There is also mention of further possible crop-marks in this area that it was not possible to properly rectify. It is therefore at least possible that significant remains extend into the main extraction area, particularly given that this is the area to have produced artefactual material.

7.3 Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post-medieval There is little direct evidence to suggest that significant remains of Anglo-Saxon date lie within the bounds of the site. It should, however, be noted that Middle and Late Saxon evidence is frequently encountered in the vicinity of parish churches. Given the close proximity of the site to the early medieval church of St Mary’s there is, therefore, at least a possibility that some evidence of this date could be encountered. The likelihood of the Templar preceptory having lain within the bounds of the site is difficult to assess, although the possibility cannot be discounted. Preceptories were not single structures, but land holdings that would have comprised a wide range of structures. The excavation of a Templar Preceptory at South Witham in Lincolnshire, for example, revealed evidence for a variety of buildings including barns, blacksmith's forge, brewhouse, chapel, gatehouses, granaries, Great Hall, kitchen ranges, watermill and workshops (Mayes 2002). Had the Haddiscoe example been of a similar scale and complexity its elusive nature is somewhat of a mystery. One possibility is that it evolved into one of the surviving or known sites. Although its extant structures are post-medieval, it is possible that the preceptory lay on the site of Haddiscoe Manor, being as it is both close to the church and of likely medieval origin. If this was indeed the case then it is entirely possible that archaeological remains relating to the preceptory extend westwards, into the eastern portion of the proposed extraction area. The ‘massive wall’ apparently found near Crab Apple Lane remains something of an enigma. The cartographic and aerial photographic sources provide no indication that such a wall related to either a post-medieval or modern structure, suggesting that it could be medieval or earlier in date. The available evidence suggests that only arable fields have been present on the site between the post-medieval period and the present-day. There is little to suggest that this situation was any different throughout at least the latter part of the medieval period. The cartographic sources do, however, suggest that during the post-medieval period there was a degree of change in how the land was arranged.

16 8.0 Conclusions The site lies within an area that, while yet to be subjected to systematic fieldwork, is clearly of considerable archaeological interest. Cropmarks identified on aerial photographs suggest that significant remains of prehistoric and Roman date are likely to survive beneath the site itself. While the prehistoric evidence may be limited to a single ring-ditch, there is a strong possibility that a reasonably extensive Roman site is present. The nature of later activity on the site is somewhat speculative, although its proximity to St Mary’s church raises the possibility that remains relating to either the Anglo-Saxon settlement or the Haddiscoe Templar preceptory might lie within its bounds. The archaeological potential of the site is enhanced by the fact that it appears to have remained arable land throughout more recent times, limiting the damage to any surviving remains.

Acknowledgements Information from the Norfolk Historic Environment Record was supplied by Alice Cattermole of Norfolk Landscape Archaeology, who also provided access to other sources consulted during this assessment. All figures were produced by the author and the report was edited by Richard Hoggett.

17 Bibliography

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