Monument record FKM 019 - Castle Fen

Circular cropmark with possible interruptions and entrance to NE, 550m N of Burnthall Plantation, FKM 005. Approximately 50m diameter. Could also be mill mound (S1).
1995: Visited during Brecks Survey (S2). Roughly circular unbanked earthwork with shallow ditch and the definite causeway to the north (another possible secondary one to the SW). Dimensions: 51 paces E-W, by 48 paces N- S. No internal features evident and no artefacts observed on surface. Located in (grazed) pasture in low-lying position approximately 100m east of the Black Bourne. Church of Fakenham Magna is 200m directly to east (over the river). Neither the 1767 map of Fakenham Lordship (S3) or the 1839 tithe map (S4) depict the earthwork, although both sources record the land unit as `Castle Fen'. Both maps show the area to be pasture. An area of woodland approximately 500m to the NNE is shown on present OS map as `Castle Oaks'. It is possible that this site is linked in some way with Burnthall Plantation to the S, although typologically is likely to be of later date.
Possibly also a former landscape feature in the area of the park of the Fakenham Lordship (note 1767 map of Jas Parkes in parish file) and Park of Euston Hall (EUN 020).
Aerial photograph in February 2012 clearly shows water in sunken segments of ditch and confim its dicontinuity. Possibly positioned on raised ground in a star shape and suggested as possible civil war earthwork (S5). This may be the reason for the 'Castle' name.

Earthworks visible on Lidar. See associated files.