GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY REPORT Land off Broomhill Lane, Reepham, Norwich, NR10 4QY NGR: TG 094 224 HER Event Code: ENF146308 OASIS Reference: sumogeop1-360070 Consultation Number: CNF47291_5 Client Lanpro For Lovell Survey Report 15453 Date July 2019 Survey Report 15453: Broomhill Lane, Reepham, Norwich, NR10 4QY Survey dates 24 - 25 June 2019 Field co-ordinator Robert Knight BA Field Team Simon Lobel BSc Report Date 9 July 2019 - v1 10 July 2019 - v2 18 July 2019 - v3 CAD Illustrations Rebecca Davies BSc Report Author Rebecca Davies BSc Project Manager Simon Haddrell BEng AMBCS PCIfA Report approved Dr John Gater BSc DSc(Hon) MCIfA FSA SUMO Geophysics Ltd SUMO Geophysics Ltd Cowburn Farm Vineyard House Market Street Upper Hook Road Thornton Upton upon Severn Bradford Worcestershire BD13 3HW WR8 0SA T: 01274 835016 T: 01684 592266 www.sumoservices.com [email protected] Project Name: Broomhill Lane, Reepham, Norwich, NR10 4QY Job ref: 15453 Client: Lanpro Date: Jul 2019 HER Event No: ENF146308 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 LIST OF FIGURES 1 2 SURVEY TECHNIQUE 1 3 SUMMARY OF RESULTS 2 4 INTRODUCTION 2 - 3 5 RESULTS 3 - 4 6 DATA APPRAISAL & CONFIDENCE ASSESSMENT 4 7 CONCLUSION 4 8 REFERENCES 5 Appendix A Technical Information: Magnetometer Survey Methods, Processing and Presentation Appendix B Technical Information: Magnetic Theory Appendix C Norfolk County Council HER Monument Full Report Appendix D Norfolk County Council HER Event / Activity Full Report 1. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 01 1:2000 Site Location Figure 02 1:2000 Magnetometer Survey - Greyscale Plots and Interpretation Figure 03 1:1000 Minimally Processed Data – Greyscale Plots 2. SURVEY TECHNIQUE Detailed magnetic survey (magnetometry) was chosen as the most efficient and effective method of locating the type of archaeological anomalies which might be expected at this site. Bartington Cart System Traverse Interval 1.0m Sample Interval 0.125m _________________________________________________________________________ 1 © SUMO Geophysics Ltd Project Name: Broomhill Lane, Reepham, Norwich, NR10 4QY Job ref: 15453 Client: Lanpro Date: Jul 2019 HER Event No: ENF146308 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3 SUMMARY OF RESULTS 3.1 A detailed magnetometer survey was conducted over approximately 7 ha of land at Reepham, Norfolk. No definite archaeological anomalies have been identified. Linear trends, discrete positive anomalies and a tentative sub-oval feature have been mapped, all of which have an undetermined provenance. Modern ploughing effects are visible in the data, along with a former field boundary, areas of natural magnetic variation and disturbance from nearby ferrous metal objects. 4 INTRODUCTION 4.1 SUMO Geophysics Ltd were commissioned to undertake a geophysical survey of an area outlined for development. This survey forms part of an archaeological investigation being undertaken by Lanpro on behalf of Lovell. 4.2 Site details NGR / Postcode TG 094 224 / NR10 4QY Location The site is located to the south-west of Reepham, Norfolk. Reepham High School lies immediately to the east, with Broomhill Lane running through the centre of the site and agricultural land to the north, west and south. HER Norfolk District Broadland Parish Reepham CP Topography Flat Current Land Use Area 1 - fallow pasture Area 2 - school playing field Geology Bedrock: Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation, Seaford Chalk Formation, (BGS 2019) Newhaven Chalk Formation, Culver Chalk Formation and Portsdown Chalk Formation (undifferentiated) - chalk. Superficial: Sheringham Cliffs Formation - clay, silt, sand and gravel. Soils (CU 2019) Soilscape 8: slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage. Archaeology A search of Norfolk HER (NHER Enquiry 19_06_14) identifies a total of (NCC 2019) 98 heritage assets within a 1km radius of the site (centred at TG 09498 22473), though none are recorded within the site itself. Metal detecting in the field immediately south of the site recovered a Saxon pin and medieval coins, together with post medieval coins, cloth seals and a buckle (HER No. 33505). The course of Fen Causeway Roman Road (HER No. 2796) is situated approximately 550m to the south of the site. The Road runs from a junction with Ermine Street and King Street near Peterborough across the Cambridgeshire and Norfolk fens. For further details of all HER records and events within a 1km radius of the site please refer to Appendices C and D. The c. 1840 Tithe Map of the site indicates that the site lay within the agricultural land surrounding Reepham, and that the northern field comprised two parcels, divided approximately down its centre. This dividing boundary is seen to have been removed by the publication of the first edition Ordnance Survey map in the late 19th Century, where Norfolk was first surveyed between 1979 and 1886. The southern field can be seen to have been re-purposed into playing fields for Reepham High School during the 1960s. _________________________________________________________________________ 2 © SUMO Geophysics Ltd Project Name: Broomhill Lane, Reepham, Norwich, NR10 4QY Job ref: 15453 Client: Lanpro Date: Jul 2019 HER Event No: ENF146308 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Survey Methods Magnetometer survey (fluxgate gradiometer) Study Area c. 7 ha 4.3 Aims and Objectives To locate and characterise any anomalies of possible archaeological interest within the study area. 5 RESULTS The survey has been divided into two survey areas (Areas 1-2) and specific anomalies have been given numerical labels [1] [2] which appear in the text below, as well as on the Interpretation Figure(s). 5.1 Probable / Possible Archaeology 5.1.1 No magnetic responses have been recorded that could be interpreted as being of definite archaeological interest. 5.2 Uncertain 5.2.1 A series of linear ditch-type trends [1] have been detected at the centre of Area 1, comprising a linear anomaly and a tentative partial rectilinear enclosure, as well as a speculative sub- oval anomaly [2] at the eastern extent with a possible third ditch. Given the nearby proximity of the Fen Causeway Roman Road and findspots of Saxon and medieval date to the south, an archaeological explanation cannot be ruled out entirely; however, they could simply be a result of agricultural practice or former boundaries. 5.2.2 A number of moderately strong, discrete, positive anomalies [3] are visible in the data across Area 1. These are of uncertain origin, however their proximity near to potential ditch-type anomalies [1] means that they could have an archaeological explanation, in particular, the responses at the southern extent of [1]. 5.2.3 Two weak parallel linear trends [4] can be seen extending north from the discrete responses [3] in the west of Area 1. While these could be associated with a former trackway or droveway, they could equally be of natural origin and are visible as a soil mark on Google Earth images from 2006. 5.3 Former Field Boundary 5.3.1 A positive linear anomaly [5] running north-south through Area 1 corresponds with the location of a former field boundary, visible on the c. 1840 Tithe Map of the area. 5.4 Agricultural – Ploughing 5.4.1 Evidence of modern ploughing activity is visible across Area 1 in the form of magnetically weak, closely spaced, parallel linear anomalies. _________________________________________________________________________ 3 © SUMO Geophysics Ltd Project Name: Broomhill Lane, Reepham, Norwich, NR10 4QY Job ref: 15453 Client: Lanpro Date: Jul 2019 HER Event No: ENF146308 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5.5 Natural / Geological / Pedological / Topographic 5.5.1 Amorphous and sinuous areas of increased magnetic response have been detected in both areas; they are likely to be of natural origin and reflect localised variations in the underlying geology or superficial deposits. 5.5 Ferrous / Magnetic Disturbance 5.5.1 Ferrous responses close to boundaries are due to adjacent fences and gates, while strong discrete ferrous responses in Area 2 are a result of features on the playing field, i.e. goalposts. A potential service is also visible along the eastern boundary of Area 2. Smaller scale ferrous anomalies ("iron spikes") are present throughout the data and are characteristic of small pieces of ferrous debris (or brick / tile) in the topsoil; they are commonly assigned a modern origin. Only the most prominent of these are highlighted on the interpretation diagram. 6 DATA APPRAISAL & CONFIDENCE ASSESSMENT 6.1 Historic England guidelines (EH 2008) Table 4 states that the typical magnetic response on the local soils / geology is variable to good. The results from this survey indicate the presence of linear and discrete anomalies of uncertain origin, along with plough effects. Consequently, the technique is deemed to have been effective and is likely to have detected any archaeological features, if present. 7 CONCLUSION 7.1 The survey at Reepham has not identified any anomalies of definite archaeological interest, however a number of linear trends and discrete anomalies of uncertain origin have been mapped, including a couple of ditch-like anomalies and a tentative sub-oval feature. A former field boundary has been identified, while evidence of modern ploughing can be seen across the northern part