NHER 13069 (Monument record) - Medieval to post medieval ditches and boundaries

1976.
Cropmark apparently of track and old field boundary (S1).
Located by E. Rose (NAU), 17 January 1978.

THE CENTRAL POINT FOR THE SITE HAS BEEN ALTERED FROM TG 422 252 TO TG 4221 2551.

September 2005. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks and earthworks of a series of curvilinear drainage ditches and double ditched land boundaries, of post medieval and possibly earlier date, are visible on aerial photographs, on an area of arable land between the Hickling Wall drain and the Waxham New Cut (S2-S4). The site is centred on TG 4221 2551. The boundaries are curvilinear and some appear to incorporate the natural course of creeks; this could indicate that these boundaries are quite early and possible medieval in origin. The shape of the boundaries is reminiscent of those enclosing and draining Hickling Priory to the immediate southwest (NHER 8384). Curvilinear and irregular boundaries are generally quite early in the pattern of enclosure and drainage within the fen and marsh environments, following natural creeks and channels. Within the Broads landscape generally the curvilinear boundaries tend to be classified as anciently enclosed land, as opposed to the more regular and rectilinear enclosure of the 17th to 20th century. Curvilinear boundaries and dykes are generally uncommon in the upper valley Broads landscape. Although the NMP and HLC mapping has identified some earlier curvilinear boundaries (NHER 27281) within the Thurne estuary to the south and other slightly irregular and curvilinear boundaries have been mapped within the Waxham and Palling marshes, for example NHER 42038 and 42092.

This area is shown as being a rectilinear enclosed and drained portion of land in the 1797 Faden map (S5), so it is possible that these curvilinear drains pre-date that phase. However the boundaries are marked on the Waxham 1840 Tithe map (S6). The southern half of the layout has been removed by the time of the Ordnance Survey First edition map (6 inch, 1879 to 1886) (S7), with only the northern meandering boundary still marked. This too has been removed by the Second edition (1902 to 7, 25 inch) (S8). This indicates that the drains and boundaries were still in use until the end of the Nineteenth century.

The northern meandering drainage channel runs from TG 4203 2586 to TG 4216 2547. Then it joins with the main curvilinear double ditched boundary, which runs from TG 4219 2545 to TG 4234 530 to TG 4201 2525. The ditches are approximately 5 to 8m apart. It seems likely that these parallel ditches relate to enclosing and draining the land, rather than a trackway, as suggested above. The northern end of the double-ditched boundary is still visible as low earthworks in 1988 (S4). The area in between the two ditches also looks sunken when viewed in stereo. The western side of the channel/ditch appears to be banked up, although the ditch may be cut into a natural slope as this feature appears to skirt around a slightly raised knoll, which is enclosed by the curvilinear boundary. To the north of these earthworks are a secondary set of parallel ditches visible as cropmarks in 1943 (S2). The meandering northern drain also has a possible parallel ditch running to the east along part of its course. A further possible fragmentary boundary was identified as earthworks running from TG 4227 2569 to TG 4238 2559 (S2). Centred on TG 4215 2527, within the southern enclosed area, are a series of ditched features that are likely to be additional drains.
S. Massey (NMP), 31 September 2005.