NHER 18237 (Monument record) - Cropmark enclosure of unknown date

24 June 1980. NAU air photography (S1).
Positive cropmarks. Three rectangular or square ditches one inside the other.
North and west sides showing.
S. Norton (NAU), 24 June 1982.

April 2002. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of an enclosure of at least medieval, and possibly earlier, date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). The site is centred on TF 7006 3578 and appears to consist of multiple, large-scale ditches, which may define a large rectilinear enclosure and associated field boundaries. The outer boundaries of this enclosure are marked on a Le Strange Estate map of 1630 (S3), see secondary file, indicating that the site existed in some form at this date. The possible internal multiple ditches give the site a similar appearance to the Iron Age to Roman ritual complex at Fison Way, however it is possible that the site represents the remains of a medieval close or wood and that the internal ditches are in fact geological in origin.

The layout of the monument (if all the internal ditches are archaeological) has many similarities with the Late Iron Age to Romano-British temple complex at Fison Way, Thetford (SMR 5853) and another elaborate enclosure at Hillington (SMR 32198). The plan provided by the aerial photographs may be composite of several phases of construction. Some Roman material has been found within the same field (SMR 1471-2), although not from actually within the area of the enclosure. These finds were found down-slope of the site and it is possible that some movement of artefacts could have taken place. The site appears to consist of a possible series of sub-rectangular enclosed areas, which sit within one another, visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1) and NLA oblique aerial photographs from 1980 (S2). The north-western area of the site, centred on TF 6998 3591 is approximately 200m by 240 (externally). The outer ditch of the enclosure appears to be extremely broad, although this is likely to be due to the spreading of the ditch material by the plough. Similarly broad medieval to post medieval field boundaries have been identified on the aerial photographs in this area (NHER 26822), suggesting that this is case.

Within the interior of the enclosure is a series of inner ditches and sub-rectangular enclosed areas, up to five can be identified, ranging from width between 4m and 15m. However again this may be due to spreading of material and an affect of the topography. The site is situated on a spur of slightly higher ground, 35m OD, and is located on the edge of the chalk escarpment. It is possible that some of these apparent ditches are in fact cropmarks caused by geological startigraphy and banding on the chalk escarpment. Similar geological cropmarks were identified on the escarpment edge to the south. It is therefore not clear at present whether these internal cropmarks represent actually archaeological features. If they are ditches then there are slight breaks and causeways in the ditches, these may be entrances, through to a central enclosure. These potential ditches and succession of entrances would be extremely elaborate and may suggest a complex similar to Fison Way.

Although the relationship between this site and surrounding components of the medieval landscape may suggest that is much later in date and of significantly less important in archaeological terms. The outer enclosure ditch appears to be conjoined to the east and south by large-scale boundary ditches, forming a T-shape. To the south this feature appears to have four disjointed stretches of ditch forming an arc to the northwest from TF 7006 3553 to TF 6980 3566. These broader ditches are all marked on the 1630 Le Strange Estate map (S3) and define boundaries within an area of open strip fields. The interior of the enclosure is marked as a close or enclosed area within the strip fields and it is likely given the slope that it represents a small wood or area of pasture. It has been suggested that this parcel of land has been kept separate from the open fields due to the presence of earlier earthworks, perhaps relating a large Iron Age enclosure (Chris Mackie, Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project), although without further archaeological evidence the significance of the site must be regarded as uncertain.
S. Massey (NMP), 10 April 2002.