Houghton Ice Hill

In the civil parish of Houghton.
In the historic county of Norfolk (Modern Authority of Norfolk, 1974 county of Norfolk).

Possible castle, large mound used for an ice house. PastScape report reads "Mound in Houghton Park. It was originally identified as a round barrow, but field investigations found it to be spoil from an adjacent pit." This is a very neat 'spoil heap' in a prominant position in a high status park. No mention is made of the icehouse in the PastScape report though it is marked on 1889 map. The mound is close to but not inline with a formal view from Houghton Hall. The mound is close to the church which is only remains of Houghton village. The mound is on a low ridge and is the middle of three similar sized, in line, circular features visable on aerial photo. In my view ths is likely to be a much altered round barrow, possibly used as a motte, certainly used as an ice house. It is unlikely that spoil from the nearby, but not adjancent, quarry would have been taken uphill to form such a neat mound.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Questionable.
Earthworks remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TF79632877

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 357287

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 3523