Monument record WRW 019 - Sub-rectangular enclosure possibly relating to post medieval Osier Beds

Water-filled sub-rectangular moat shown on OS 1882 & 1884 maps, circa 40m x 25m, linked to water course flowing S to River Lark. Isolated, circa 500m from Wordwell Hall and 400m from road. Now in NW corner of arable field, originally within larger field (S1).
1800: map names site as 'Osier Cover' (S2).

October 2019. Breckland National Mapping Programme.
A sub rectangular enclosure with an exterior ditch, of a probable post medieval date, can be seen as an earthwork (which has since been levelled) on aerial photographs (S3-S4). The feature consists of a banked enclosure with an exterior ditch and small regular banks and ditches within the interior of the enclosure. The enclosure is also possibly linked to a drain or watercourse in close proximity which has not been mapped as it falls outside of the scope of this survey and is mapped well on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map (S6). It is possible that this feature may relate to a post medieval Osier Bed and the area has previously been referred to as Oiser Cover on historic maps (See above (S2)) which may support this interpretation. The possible enclosure has previously been interpreted to be a moat (See above) however this is unlikely. The feature is seen as an earthwork in the 1940s and has been levelled by the late 1950s (S5). The possible Osier Bed is in close proximity to earthworks possibly relating to Wordwell Medieval settlement remains (WRW 003).
J.Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 28th October 2019.