An archaeological assessment by fieldwalking and metal detecting of 
land at Fairstead, King's Lynn, Norfolk 

Mary Alexander 

Cambridge Archaeological Unit 
University of Cambridge 

November 2001 

Report No. 456 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

Background 
Circumstances of the Project 
This project was commissioned by Wilcon Homes Ltd to assess the archaeological 
potential of the development area (centred TL 640 190). The report is written in 
response to the Brief for Archaeological Evaluation by Field Survey and Trial 
Trenching at Fairstead, Kings Lynn, Norfolk (Gurney 2000). The work was carried 
out on 9th-10th October and 16th-17th October 2001. The County Numbers allocated 
to the project begin at 1 and the site code is 36320. 

Planning application for the northern part of the site has already been submitted 
(99/1367/0). Planning Permissions may be granted for housing and industrial use 
subject to the following archaeological condition. No development shall take place 
within the application site until the applicant or their agent or successor in title has 
secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance 
with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted to and approved in 
writing by the Local Planning Authority, Norfolk. 

This report discusses the findings of the second phase of the project, following the 
Desktop survey (Garrow 2000). 

North tee 

\ King's Lynn Norfolk 

Figure 2 

• 

Norwich -T-^^^ Great Yarmouth \ 

v. \Lowe«toft 

Thetford <J 

Figure 1. Site location 

Topography, geology and land use 
The development area covers approximately 30 hectares and is located at Fairstead, 
on the south-eastern outskirts of King's Lynn. The site is situated on low-lying 
ground at a height of less than 5m OD. The slight valley in which it lies would once 
have been a small finger of fen, extending south-eastwards from the area now 
occupied by King's Lynn out towards the higher land to the east. The underlying 
geology is sandstone, covered by glaciofluvial drift (SSEW 1983). The western part 
of the area is covered by a Flandrian marine deposit with slight meandering rises 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

representing extinct watercourses, as plotted by the aerial photographic assessment. 
The site is currently divided by a ditch into two fields. The eastern side of the eastern 
field (Field B) rises to about the 5m contour where a knoll of sandy pre-Flandrian soil 
is exposed. 
The land has been put to agricultural use with a small area of former woodland to the 
north and a small rectangular reservoir at the centre of the site. 

Brief history of the site 
Archaeological information concerning the site and its environs has been researched 
and discussed in detail in the Desktop Assessment (Garrow 2000). The findings of 
that report are summarised below. 

The earliest map that shows the site in any detail dates to 1789. Faden's map of 
Norfolk shows the area as open fields. The site continued to be farmed to the present 
day and no buildings are recorded within the development area. 

The aerial photographic assessment did not find evidence of archaeological activity 
within the area although traces of medieval ridge and furrow were recorded in a small 
number of fields around and adjoining the assessed area. 

The finds recorded on the SMR database for the area cover a wide range of periods. 
Several finds spots of Paleolithic and Neolithic flints have been recovered from the 
wider study area and Bronze Age flint scatters were recorded within the study area 
but not from the site itself. Finds from the Roman period suggest the area was 
densely settled during this period, although no finds spots of this date are recorded 
within the development area. 

The medieval period produced the largest number of finds spots. King's Lynn was a 
major port during the medieval period, and although Fairstead lies beyond the limits 
of the medieval town, it still appears to be an area rich in medieval archaeology. 
Several sites of considerable archaeological importance lie within the study area 
including a chapel and moat, adjacent to the southern edge of the site, and 500m to 
the east of the site lie a deserted medieval village and a ruined Norman church. Next 
to these, three bloomeries have been located. 

Several medieval pottery scatters are recorded across the study area, some 
accompanied by other finds such as metalworking debris, buckles, etc. With the 
exception of a small patch of ridge and furrow, no find spots of this date fall within 
the development area. 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

Fieldwalking Investigation 
564000/319533.6381 564900/319533.6381 

564000/319000 564900/319000 

Figure 2. Distribution of Finds 

Methodology 
Both fields (Fields A and B) were walked in transects set 20 m apart numbered 1-32 
from west to east. Transect 1 was parallel to the west edge of field A and transect 11 
was truncated by the drain on the east. Transect 12 was realigned to be parallel to the 
western side of Field B. Transects 22-32 were reset on a slightly different alignment 
as there was uncertainty about marking pegs being moved overnight by third parties. 

Each transect had finds of flint, pottery and metal collected in 20m lengths along a 
walking line 2m wide, so achieving a 10 percent sample. Each bag of finds was 
labeled with a context number. After washing and drying, the artifacts were identified 
and listed on a data-base. Each context was plotted on a plan at the 1:2500 scale and 
the data digitized. 

Surface condition 
Daylight conditions for searching were good. The Flandrian deposits were in fair, but 
adequate, weathered condition for identifying finds. The sandy knoll was in excellent 
condition with a slight growth of groundsel picking out where the sand content was 
greatest and which coincided with the main extent of lithic finds. 

Results 
The flint assemblage was identified by Chantal Conneller, the pottery by David Hall, 
and the metal finds by Andrew Hall. 

3 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

Prehistoric 
No pottery was recovered, and so the prehistoric period is represented entirely by 
burnt and worked flint. 

A small assemblage of 29 pieces of worked flint and 19 pieces of burnt flint was 
recovered from the site. The majority of the flints were concentrated on the sandy 
higher, eastern, part of Field B, mainly on the north-western side of the knoll. The 
scatter thinned out on the east, where there was slightly more fire-cracked flint. 

The assemblage is of mixed date, spanning several millennia. Five patinated and/or 
stained pieces may date to the Palaeolithic. One of these is a fragment of what may be 
an Upper Palaeolithic endscraper, though the fragmentary nature of this piece 
precludes a definite identification. This was associated with a small amount of pre-
Flandrian soil that may have been ploughed out from a rise in the subsoil base in Field 
A. A small number of pieces date to the Neolithic. These include four fine flakes, a 
blade fragment and a blade manufactured from a reworked polished axe. Early Bronze 
Age material is represented by a thumbnail scraper and possibly also a retouched 
flake with some evidence for preparation. The remainder of the material is Late 
Bronze Age/Early Iron Age in date. This material is crudely flaked from multi-
platform cores, using a hard hammer. One extensively retouched scraper, made on an 
irregular flake, a scraper made on a very thick flake and a notch made on a natural 
pot-lid fracture date from this period. 

The source of flint utilized appears to have varied over this timespan. Patination and 
red staining makes it difficult to gage the original appearance of the flint used during 
the Palaeolithic, but the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age workers employed a 
brown/honey coloured material. During the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age a black 
gravel flint was used. 

Category N o . % 

Tools: 10 34.5 
No tch 1 3.4 
Scraper 5 17.2 
Flaked piece 1 3.4 
Re touched 3 10.3 
Debitage: 19 65.5 
Blade 2 6.9 
F l a k e / f r a g m e n t 15 51.7 
Core 1 3.4 
Core tablet 1 3.4 
Total 29 100 

4 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

Post-Medieval 
8 sherds of post-medieval pottery were recovered, predominantly dated to the 19th 
century. The north-west corner of Field B had a line of late post-medieval pottery 
that seems to be a track made within the woodland that existed there until recently. 

Metal Detecting Survey 
A metal detecting survey was undertaken in good conditions by Cambridge 
Archaeological Unit archaeologist Andrew Hall, an experienced metal-detector with 
12 years experience. The survey was carried out on the same transects as the 
fieldwalking, and walked in the same direction. A Tesoro Laser Rapier motion 
detector, was used, with the iron discrimination turned off. This detector has some 
degree of iron discrimination built in, and therefore small iron, such as nails did not 
produce a signal. All finds were retained, with exception of modern scrap, and finds 
of historical or archaeological significance were plotted. 

In line with paragraph 3.14 of the County Standards for Field Archaeology in Norfolk 
(Norfolk Museums Service 1998), iron objects were discriminated against and 
artefacts of no archaeological significance were discarded. A large proportion of the 
metal finds excavated were modern rubbish, which was especially concentrated along 
the northern boundary adjacent to the Fairstead estate, near the roadside to the south 
east and on the crest of the hill. This consisted mainly of aluminium drinks cans, milk 
bottle tops, screw tops, offcuts of copper pipe, and other general domestic waste. In 
addition 18 fragments of lead were recovered but not plotted. These were mainly cut 
fragments of flashing, and small irregular shaped lumps. A large number of these 
were found alongside the railway track, which formed the southern boundary. 
Several large pieces of iron were excavated but not kept, these included plough 
shares, other pieces of farm machinery, horseshoes, and large nails and bolts. 

Ground Conditions 
Within the low lying western field, the conditions were moderate. The ground surface, 
although ploughed, was still uneven thus reducing the soil surface area covered with 
each sweep. Large piles of straw were also located within the field, however they 
only obscured a very small proportion of the total ground surface area. Soil 
conditions improved dramatically as the survey reached the sandy soil of the higher 
ground to the east. This soil had broken down completely during the recent rain and 
provided a flat surface. 

Results 
Metalwork of archaeological or historical interest was very sparse within the area 
surveyed. A total of eight finds were plotted and detailed below: 

5 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

[6] Post Medieval Musket Ball 
[21] Two Pence coin dated 1971 
[78] Very worn, illegible half penny sized copper coin. 17th-18th century 
[118] Very worn, illegible farthing sized copper coin. 17th-18th century 
[157] Copper alloy, oval horse brass. Incised with initials? Georgian 
[296] Post Medieval Musket Ball 
[351] Post Medieval Musket Ball 
[384] Modern five Pence coin 
[392] Elizabeth 1st Threepence silver hammered coin. Third issue. Ermine mint 

mark. Date 1572. 

Finds List 
Context Flint Fire Post- Metal Date Notes. 

tool/ cracked med finds 
flake flint pot 

6 1 Tile, not kept 
7 1 Post Med Musket Ball 

21 1 Modern 2 pence coin 
78 1 Post Med Very worn 17th-18th century cu 

alloy coin half penny size 
114 3 19th Three frags of white glazed 

earthenware 
118 1 Post Med Very worn 17th-18th century cu 

alloy coin, farthing size 
125 1 19th Rim of willow pattern plate 
135 3 19th 2 white & 1 obsidian plus 2 bottle 

glass [I blue, 1 green] 
157 1 18th Cu alloy oval horse harness 

decoration, incised decoration 
182 1 18/19th GRE panchion rim 
185 2 19th Blue and white 
191 1 
212 1 1 19th 
222 1 
223 2 
237 1 
238 2 1 post-med glass, 19th 
239 1 1 19th White ware 
240 1 2 19th Pot one blue & white; other 

earthenware dish rim with internal 
white glaze 

241 1 1 
243 1 
255 1 
257 2 
258 1 1 
275 1 
276 1 1 
277 1 
279 1 1 19th Pot base of jar in redware with 

internal black glaze 
282 1 
294 1 
296 1 Post med Musket Ball 

6 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

Context Flint Fire Post- Metal Date Notes. 
tool/ cracked med finds 
flake flint pot 

298 1 18/19? Fragment of red roof tile 
299 1 
300 2 
301 2 
312 1 18/19 Tile, not kept 
316 2 
337 1 1 19th White ware 
338 1 
339 1 
342 2 1 18th PM an abraded GRE bodysherd 
347 1 
350 1 
351 1 Post Med Musket Ball 
354 1 
355 2 
362 1 
363 
365 1 
370 1 
373 1 1 17th Frechen stoneware 
374 1 
375 1 
377 1 
381 1 
384 1 Modern Modern 5 pence coin 
390 1 
392 1 
393 1 16th Elizabeth 1st Threepence coin, 

silver 
398 1 
402 2 

Summary 
Over two-thirds of the site was covered in Flandrian deposits, which offered adequate 
conditions for field walking. Neither field had any pottery older than the late modern 
period. Roman sherds might have been expected on the Flandrian deposits and their 
absence suggests that the deposits may be of post-Roman date, as has been found 
elsewhere in the Norfolk Fenland. 

The Flandrian deposits had few finds of any kind, with no metal and a only a few 
prehistoric flints and a small amount of post-medieval material. The most interesting 
find was the possible late Palaeolithic rolled flint, associated with a small amount of 
pre-Flandrian soil that may have been ploughed out from a rise in the subsoil base. 
Elsewhere the Flandrian deposits were not truncated by the plough, and no pre-
Flandrian deposits were revealed in the cut section of the field ditch. The pre-
Flandrian surface, which has the potential for early prehistoric remains, therefore 
appears to be more than 1.5m below modern ground surface in that area. The small 
concentration of Post-medieval pottery suggests the presence of a former trackway, 
through the recently cleared wooded area in Field B. 

7 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

On the sandy higher, eastern, part of Field B, concentrated to the north-west of the 
rising ground was a minor collection of flints and burnt flint. The sample is small but 
covers a wide date range from Upper Palaeolithic to Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. 
Conditions for metal detecting on the Flandrian deposits were adequate, and were 
greatly improved on the higher outcrop of sandy soil The majority of the metal finds 
were modern and their distribution reflects the proximity of the Fairstead estate. 
Low-level activity in the Post-medieval period was represented by a scatter of coins 
and musket balls. 

8 



© Cambridge Archaeological Unit/UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 

References 
Maps 
1797 - Faden's Map of Norfolk 

Bibliography 
Garrow, D. 2000 An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment of land at Fairstead, 
King's Lynn, Norfolk. CAU report 390 

Gurney, D. 2000 Brief for Archaeological Evaluation by Field Survey and Trial 
Trenching at land at Fairstead, Kings Lynn, Norfolk 

Norfolk Landscape Archaeology 1998 County Standards for Field Archaeology in 
Norfolk. Norfolk Museums Service 

SSEW 1983 Soils of England and Wales: Sheet 4 - Eastern England (1:250,000). 
Harpenden: Soil Survey of England and Wales. 

9