Land at Long Stratton, Norfolk. Geophysical Survey

Between August 2017 and March 2018, Archaeological Solutions Ltd carried out a magnetic gradiometer survey on c.140 hectares of land at Long Stratton, Norfolk (NGR TM 1973 9251). The survey was carried out on behalf of the client in support of a proposed planning application for the residential development of c.1,800 houses, a bypass, employment land, open space and associated infrastructure on a large area of land to form part of an ES chapter required by the Local Planning Authority. The results of the survey were positive and identified a number of areas of archaeological interest across this landscape project. Identified anomalies can be provisionally attributed to the prehistoric, Romano-British, medieval and post-medieval periods, demonstrating a multi-period landscape. Prehistoric remains were identified in the form of ring ditches in the NW of the survey (1) and the area around Hall Farm (122-124), as well as other possible small enclosures (24, 33 and 64). Romano-British activity, as previously recorded by an archaeological evaluation in the south of the survey area (Birks 2004a), was identified as numerous small enclosure forms and other magnetically enhanced features indicative of settlement (131-164) in an area measuring c.680m by 40m along the line of the present A140. Medieval remains were represented by extensive evidence of settlement within the present parish of Stratton St. Michael. This takes the form of settlement, enclosures and field boundaries in the north, fronting onto Church Lane (34-47) and the present A140 (2-22; cf.60-63). Also of significance were the probable remains of a medieval manorial complex north of Edge's Lane (70-89), and a medieval moated enclosure (97-99), along with further medieval settlement (103-112) abutting Edge's Lane to the south. Three sub-rectangular anomalies (75 and 76) were reminiscent of Anglo-Saxon SFBs and anomalies within the group (70-89) may indicate a multi-period site.