NHER 13064 (Monument record) - Three rectilinear enclosures, potentially sheepfolds

1976.
Cropmarks of three rectangular enclosures with rounded corners, superimposed on slightly differing alignments, connected with another to north avoided by present field boundary, being inside an outer enclosure both having gateways, by a linear feature. Suggested as sheep folds by D. Edwards.
E. Rose (NAU), 16 January 1978.

September 2004. Norfolk NMP.
NMP mapping has led to the alteration of the central grid reference of the site from TG 240 386 to TG 2389 3852.

At least three rectilinear enclosures with annexes, described above, together with three smaller rectilinear enclosures are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1), centred at TG 2389 3852. The distinctive morphology of the larger, annexed enclosures suggests a specialised agricultural or, more probably, pastoral function. While it is possible that they functioned as sheepfolds, as suggested above, there is little evidence to support their interpretation as pounds. The three smaller enclosures, which lie to the east of the annexed features, are also likely to have had an agricultural function. The middle enclosure (centred at TG 2407 3856) may in fact be the southeast corner of a fourth annexed enclosure.

The enclosures are visible over an area measuring approximately 365m by 250m. The three annexed enclosures are of varying size and shape. The northernmost (centred at TG 2380 3860) is roughly rectangular in plan and measures approximately 80m long (60m without the annexe) and 50m wide. There are a number of breaks in the ditch circuit; those on the eastern side of both the annexe and the principal enclosure appear to be genuine entrances. The enclosure centred at TG 2402 3844 is squarish in plan with a trapezoidal annexe. The inner enclosure measures approximately 70m long and 70m wide. The annexe measures 98m by 85m. The break in the eastern ditch of the annexe is probably an entrance, and the point at which the eastern side of the inner enclosure terminates may also mark the northern side of an entrance. The third enclosure (centred at TG 2406 3849) is rather fragmentary but appears to be trapezoidal in plan and measures approximately 63m north to south and at least 63m east to west. Other ditches in the surrounding area may represent parts of further enclosures or could instead form part of one of other of the field systems visible in the same area (NHER 38807 and 38808).

The three smaller enclosures also vary in their size and shape. The northernmost, which is rectilinear in plan, measures 19m long and 15.5m wide. Breaks in its two longer sides may be the result of the cropmark being masked. The other two enclosures are only partially visible. It should be noted that the cropmarks of these three enclosures were not particularly clear and were also only visible on the edge of oblique aerial photographs (S1). There is consequently a relatively high risk that they are in fact the product of underlying geology or a result of modern agricultural activity, rather than the presence of archaeological features. Furthermore, due to the topography of the area, the rectification of aerial photographs of these smaller enclosures was problematic and may have led to their shape being skewed. They have therefore been partially sketched.
See (S1).
S. Tremlett (NMP), 21 September 2004.