More information : (TG 20372074) Palace (NR) (Site of).
(Centred TG 203207) Moat (NR)
(TG 20502100) Joshua's Pond (NR) (Site of). (1)
The authority for these names is the land agent, who gives no
indication of the origin of the name Joshua's Pond (probably a local
name of no great antiquity). The site of the Palace in the centre of
the field SW of Park Farm is supported by "supposed to have been
built by the Bishop of Norwich in 1250 AD (2). Blomefield states
that a Bishop's Palace was built at Hevingham in 1250 AD by Walter
de Suffield, Bishop of Norwich and that the manor of Hevingham,
including the palace passed to the Crown during the Office of Bishop
Nix (AD 1500-26) (3). It is now (1807) part of the estate of the
late Earl of Yarmouth (4).
Purdy thought the site of the palace was within the moated area (5).
(2-5)
The moat encloses an area of approx 7.5 acres and the island is a
raised platform which is higher than the surrounding land. The
profile of the moat has been altered by ploughing and recutting but
still maintains its original line. The northern arm is dry and wide
and the remaining three sides are water-filled and somewhat narrower.
No trace of a building was seen on the island but there is a fair
scatter of tile and one fragment of grey pottery with partial green
glaze was found, prob C13th/C14th. Joshua's Pond is formed by a pond
bay at TG 20542108 lying across a natural stream valley. Now dry.
See annotated 25" survey.
No local information was obtained; the present farmer Mr W.A Medlen
has only been at the farm for one year. The previous owner is dead. (6)
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