Moot Hill

Moot Hill in Wymondham, Norfolk, is one of the area’s most intriguing secrets – a dramatic earthwork steeped in mystery. Believed to be a Norman ringwork fortification from the late 11th or early 12th century and linked to the powerful D’Albini family, this 7.86-acre site may even conceal traces of an Iron Age settlement dating back over 2,000 years.

Despite its significance, Moot Hill has had little archaeological investigations – only a few small digs in the 1930s, which were never fully recorded. Today, it stands as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, a County Wildlife Site, and sadly, a Monument at Risk. Its towering banks, deep water-filled ditches, and hidden ponds create a hauntingly beautiful landscape – but the trees threaten the archaeology, and there’s currently no formal public access.

What is the Moot Hill Project?

The Norfolk Archaeological Trust (NAT) is now the proud owner of Moot Hill. We’re launching an ambitious project to unlock its secrets, restore its archaeology and ecology, and open it up for the community. Working hand-in-hand with local residents, we’ll create a space where history and nature thrive together. Moot Hill will become an accessible green haven, a place to learn, explore, and connect.

Phase 1 – completed by end of March 2026​

• Initial surveys of the site​
• Safety works – treeworks, scrub removal, fencing​
• Access routes​
• Signage​
• Funding applications​
• Community liaison and engagement events​
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Phase 2 April 2026 onwards​

• Tree removal to allow for more detailed surveys ​
• Archaeological Review – Walk-over survey, damage assessment etc ​
• Earthwork measured survey (after scrub and tree clearance)  ​
• Geophysical survey (after scrub and tree clearance) ​
• Commission Conservation Management Plan (CMP) ​
• Community liaison and engagement events​
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Phase 3​

• Ongoing conservation works​
• Interpretation project ​
• Archaeological investigation including excavation – conducted as a community archaeology project ​
• A programme of activities to encourage interest in archaeology and ecology

Our Vision

The Moot Hill project aims to:

• Reduce risks to the monument through research, management, and conservation
• Reconnect the community with this historic site
• Make Moot Hill accessible and inclusive for all
• Involve local residents and stakeholders in shaping its future
• Provide a green community asset and a hub for learning about archaeology and ecology, especially for young people