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The Fenland Project, Number 3: NORFOLK SURVEY, MARSHLAND & NAR VALLEY East Anglian Archaeology Norfolk Archaeological Unit, Norfolk Museums Service 1988 EAST ANGLIAN ARCHAEOLOGY The Fenland Project Number 3: Marshland and the Nar Valley, Norfolk by R.J. Silvester with a contribution from Andrew Rogerson illustrations by Margaret Mathews and photographs by Derek A. Edwards East Anglian Archaeology Report No. 45, 1988 Fenland Project Committee Norfolk Archaeological Unit, Norfolk Museums Service EAST ANGLIAN ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT NO. 45 Published by The Norfolk Archaeological Unit Union House Gressenhall Dereham Norfolk NR20 4DR in conjunction with The Fenland Project Committee andThe Scole Archaeological Committee Ltd. Editor: Peter Wade-Martins EAA Managing Editor: Julie Gardiner Scole Editorial Sub-Committee: David Buckley, County Archaeologist, Essex Planning Department Peter Wade-Martins, County Field Archaeologist, Norfolk Museums Service Stanley West, County Archaeological Officer, Suffolk Planning Department Typeset in Plantin by Spire Origination, Norwich Printed by Witley Press Ltd, Hunstanton, Norfolk © THE NORFOLK ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT ISSN 0307 2460 For details of East Anglian Archaeology, see last page This volume is published with the aid of a grant from the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England Cover lliustration Terrington St Clement village with, beyond, post-medieval saltmarsh reclamations stretching to the Wash. Photo: Derek A. Edwards Contents List of Contents V List of Plates vi List of Figures Vl Contents of Microfiche Vlll Contributors viii Acknowledgements VlllX Abbreviations ix A Note on the Use of Radiocarbon Dates ix Summary X 1. Introduction 14. Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen 101 I. The Fens and the Fenland Project 15. Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin 109 11. The Geography of Marshland and the Nar Valley 1 The Parish Essays: TheNar Valley Ill. The Historical Background 4 16. Marham 119 IV. Flandrian Deposits 5 History of the study 5 17. Middleton (Blackborough End) 126 The sedimentary sequence 6 18. Pentney 131 V. The Modern Landscape 7 19. Shouldham 133 Marshland 7 20. Tottenhill 135 TheNar Valley 8 21. W atlington 139 VI. Sources 9 22. West Winch 140 VII. The Field Survey and its Methods 12 23. Wormegay 143 VIII. The Organisation of the Volume 14 24. Discussion I. Marshland 151 The Parish Essays: Marshland The Roman period 154 2. Clenchwarton 17 The Saxon Period 156 3. King's Lynn 23 The medieval period 160 4. Marshland St James 28 11. TheNar Valley 169 5. Terrington St Clement 35 6. Terrington St John 42 Appendix 1: The medieval pottery, by Andrew 7. Tilney All Saints 47 Rogerson 174 8. Tilney St Lawrence 54 Appendix 2: Early maps of Marshland and the 9. Walpole St Andrew 66 Nar Valley 175 10. Walpole St Peter 71 Bibliography 176 11. W also ken 82 Index 181 12. West Walton 88 Microfiche 13. Wiggenhall St Germans 97 V List of Plates PI. I The medieval sea bank in Clench- 8 works at Aylmer Hall on the east warton looking north-eastwards side of the medieval drove PI. 11 Late seventeenth-century copy of 10 PI. VIII West Walton: the village centre 94 William Haiwarde's 1591 map of showing the church and cropmarks Marshland: the northern half of a moated enclosure PI. Ill Late seventeenth-century copy of 11 PI. IX Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin: the 113 William Haiwarde's 1591 map of Aylmer canal Marshland: the southern half PI. X Marh am: the earlier course of the 119 PI. IV Marshland St James: the Old Podike 34 River Nar PI. V Terrington St Clement: the medieval 41 Pl. XI West Winch: soilmark of a small 141 sea bank, with 'goules' where it was enclosure close to the Setchey breached by heavy seas peninsula and the River Nar PI. VI Tilney All Saints: remains of med- 51 Pl. XII Wormegay: the motte-and-bailey 147 ieval paddocks or tofts beside what earthwork. was once Mear Green Pl. XIII Wormegay: the Priory site 149 PI. VII Tilney St Lawrence: manorial earth- 63 List of Figures Fig. 1 Location of The Wash Fenlands Xll Terrington St John Fig. 2 The Norfolk Fens 2 Fig. 26 The modern landscape 42 Fig. 3 Marshland: The modern landscape 3 Fig. 27 Fieldwork intensity 43 Fig. 4 TheNar Valley: The modern landscape 4 Fig. 28 The Iron Age landscape 43 Fig. 5 Schematic section of the Flandrian Fig. 29 The Roman landscape 44 deposits in Marshland 6 Fig. 30 The medieval landscape 45 Fig. 6 Symbols used on the parish and regional Fig. 31 Early fields 45 maps 13 Tilney All Saints Clenchwarton Fig. 32 The modern landscape 47 Fig. 7 The modern landscape 18 Fig. 33 Fieldwork intensity 48 Fig. 8 Fieldwork intensity 19 Fig. 34 The Iron Age landscape 49 Fig. 9 The medieval landscape 20 Fig. 35 The Late Saxon landscape 50 Fig. 10 Early fields 21 Fig. 36 The medieval landscape 51 Fig. 37 Early fields 53 King!s Lynn Fig. 11 The modern landscape 24 Tilney St Lawrence Fig. 12 Fieldwork intensity 24 Fig. 38 The modern landscape 55 Fig. 13 The Iron Age landscape 25 Fig. 39 Fieldwork intensity 56 Fig. 14 The medieval landscape 25 Fig. 40 The Neolithic and Bronze Age Fig. 15 Early fields 26 landscape 57 Fig. 41 The Iron Age landscape 58 Marshland St James Fig. 42 The Roman landscape 59 Fig. 16 The modern landscape 28 Fig. 43 The Saxon landscape 61 Fig. 17 Fieldwork intensity 29 Fig. 44 The medieval landscape 62 Fig. 18 The Neolithic and Bronze Age Fig. 45 Early fields 64 landscape 30 Fig. 19 The Late Iron Age and Roman Wa lpole St Andrew landscape 31 Fig. 46 The modern landscape 66 Fig. 20 The medieval landscape 33 Fig. 47 Fieldwork intensity 67 Fig. 48 The Iron Age landscape 68 Terrington St Clement Fig. 49 The Roman landscape 68 Fig. 21 The modern landscape 35 Fig. 50 The medieval landscape 69 Fig. 22 Fieldwork intensity 36 Fig. 51 Early fields 69 Fig. 23 The Saxon landscape 38 Fig. 24 The medieval landscape 39 Walpole St Peter Fig. 25 Early fields 40 Fig. 52 The modern landscape 72 vi Fig. 53 Fieldwork intensity 73 Fig. 91 Fieldwork intensity 120 Fig. 54 The Iron Age landscape 74 Fig. 92 The prehistoric landscape 122 Fig. 55 The Roman landscape 75 Fig. 93 The Iron Age and Roman landscape 123 Fig. 56 The Saxon landscape 76 Fig. 94 The Saxon and medieval landscape 124 Fig. 57 The medieval landscape 78 Fig. 58 Early fields 79 Middleton and West Winch Fig. 95 The modern landscape 126 Walsoken Fig. 96 Fieldwork intensity 127 Fig. 59 The modern landscape 82 Fig. 97 The prehistoric landscape 128 Fig. 60 Fieldwork intensity 83 Fig. 98 The Iron Age and Roman landscape 129 Fig. 61 The Iron Age landscape 84 Fig. 99 The Saxon and medieval landscape 130 Fig. 62 The Roman landscape 85 Fig. 63 The medieval landscape 86 Tottenhill and Watlington Fig. 64 Early fields 87 Fig. 100 The modern landscape 135 Fig. 101 Fieldwork intensity 136 West Walton Fig. 102 The prehistoric landscape 137 Fig. 65 The modern landscape 88 Fig. 103 The Iron Age and Roman landscape 137 Fig. 66 Fieldwork intensity 89 Fig. 104 The medieval landscape 138 Fig. 67 The Iron Age landscape 90 Fig. 68 The Roman landscape 91 Wonnegay Fig. 69 The Middle Saxon landscape 92 Fig. 105 The modern landscape 143 Fig. 70 The Late Saxon landscape 92 Fig. 106 Fieldwork intensity 144 Fig. 71 The medieval landscape 93 Fig. 107 The prehistoric landscape 145 Fig. 72 Early fields 95 Fig. 108 The Iron Age and Roman landscape 146 Fig. 109 The Saxon and medieval landscape 148 Wiggenhall St Gennans Fig. 73 The modern landscape 97 Fig. 74 Fieldwork intensity 98 Fig. 110 Marshland: Soils and drainage patterns 152 Fig. 75 The Iron Age landscape 98 Fig. 111 Marshland: Relief 153 Fig. 76 The Roman and medieval landscape 99 Fig. 112 Marshland: The Roman lamls<.:ape 155 Fig. 77 Early fields 99 Fig. 113 Marshland: The Middle Saxon landscape 157 Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen Fig. 114 Marshland: The Late Saxon landscape 159 Fig. 78 The modern landscape 101 Fig. 115 Marshland: The medieval landscape 161 Fig. 79 Fieldwork intensity 102 Fig. 116 Medieval Marshland: the origin of Fig. 80 The Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements 162 landscape 103 Fig. 117 Medieval Marshland: dated medieval Fig. 81 The Roman landscape 104 sites 163 Fig. 82 The medieval landscape 106 Fig. 118 Marshland moats 167 Fig. 83 Early fields 107 Fig. 119 Earlier parish divisions 168 Fig. 120 The N ar Valley: Soils and drainage Wiggenhall St M~ the Virgin patterns 170 Fig. 84 The modern landscape 109 Fig. 121 TheNar Valley: The prehistoric Fig. 85 Fieldwork intensity 110 landscape 171 Fig. 86 The Iron Age landscape 111 Fig. 122 TheNar Valley: The Iron Age and Fig. 87 The Roman and Saxon landscape 112 Roman landscape 171 Fig. 88 The medieval landscape 114 Fig. 123 TheNar Valley: The Saxon and Fig. 89 Early fields 115 medieval landscape 172 Marham, Pentney and Shouldham Fig. 124 The medieval Landscape of Marshland: Fig. 90 The modern landscape 118 fields, greens and droves (Back Pocket) Vll Contents of Microfiche Table of contents l:A.2 Walsoken l:F.l Gazetteer: Explanatory notes l:A.3 West Walton l:F.6 Fenland Gazetteer: Standard abbreviations l:A.5 Wiggenhall St Germans l:G.3 Norfolk Parish abbreviations l:A.7 Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen l:G.5 Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin l:G.7 Marsh/and Gazetteer Clenchwarton l:A.9 N ar Valley Gazetteer King's Lynn l:A.l2 Marh am 2:A.2 Marshland St James l:B.2 Middleton 2:A.7 Terrington St Clament l:B.3 Pentney 2:A.ll Terrington St John 1: B.ll Shouldham 2:A.l4 Tilney All Saints l:C.3 Tottenhill 2:B.4 Tilney St Lawrence l:C.ll Watlington 2:B.5 Walpole St Andrew l:D.6 West Winch 2:B.6 Walpole St Peter l:D.lO Wormegay 2:B.9 Contributors Derek A. Edwards, Dip. Archaeol., MIFA, Andrew Rogerson, BA, MIFA Survey Officer, Norfolk Archaeological Unit Field Officer, Norfolk Archaeological Unit Margaret Mathews, BA., Dip. Archaeol., Bob Silvester, BA, MIFA Assistant to the Fenland Field Officer, Norfolk Fenland Field Officer, Norfolk Archaeological Unit Archaeological Unit Acknowledgements The writer would like to offer his thanks to: the members Mathews was responsible for all but a few of the plans, has of the Fenland Project Committee and his fellow field processed the bulk of the fmds and has done a great deal to officers; to his colleagues in the Norfolk Archaeological smooth the progress of this report; Hoste Spalding (plans), Unit, and particularly to the County Field Archaeologist, Sharon Harrison (fmds processing) and David Wicks Dr Peter Wade-Martins; to former and present members of (photographic processing) also contributed; and Joan the Soil Survey of England and Wales, Dr Bob Evans, Daniells typed parts of the text. Plates I, IV-VI, VIII, XI Frank Heaven and Dr Rodney Burton, who lent aerial and XIII are by Derek Edwards who also prepared an photographs and gave much useful advice; to Mr G.R. enhanced image for Pl. IX; permission for the reproduction W atling and Mr B. Hornigold of the West of Ouse Internal of the remaining plates was kindly provided by the Drainage Board and Mr D. Phillips of the Middle Level Cambridge University Collection of Air Photographs (Pls Commissioners who provided access to the map archives VII, X and XII); the Syndics of Cambridge University and data from which Figure 111 was compiled; and to the Library (Pls 11 and Ill) and Hunting Aerofilms (Pl. IX). friends in Marshland who have offered advice and Drafts of this report have been read by Kenneth Penn, hospitality, particularly Sandy and Sally Greer. Martyn Waller, David Hall and Margaret Mathews and In his joint role as sceretary of the Fenland Project their comments have done much to improve the text. Committee and senior field officer, David Hall has Finally the writer would like to thank the farmers of managed, in his normal imperturbable fashion, to Marshland and the Nar Valley for their tolerance and circumvent many of the problems that have arisen and has interest. Without their cooperation the work would not given the writer much pertinent advice; Martyn Waller has have been possible: of several hundred who were contacted corrected the writer's frequent misconceptions of earlier only two or three refused access to their land. The farming Fenland environments and still retained his sense of tradition that they represent is a long one, and the writer humour; Roy Switsur provided a list of calibrated has learnt a great deal from them. It is hoped that a little of radiocarbon dates; Frances Healy (lithics), Tony Gregory the debt can be repaid in the publication of this report. (Roman pottery) and Andrew Rogerson (medieval pottery) The Fenland Project is fmanced by the Historic have spent much time on sorting and analysing the material Buildings and Monuments Commission (English collected by the writer and without their assistance this Heritage). report would have been very much the poorer; Margaret Vlll