NHER 30302 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark trackways of possible late prehistoric date

The linear cropmarks previously recorded under this number are now under NHER 42515-6. The central grid reference has also changed from TG 4992 0354 to TG 4995 0357.

4 July 1989. NAU air photography.
Cropmarks of two trackways and linear marks.
D.Edwards (NAU).

November 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of two trackways of possible late prehistoric date are visible on aerial photographs to the south of Church Walk, Bradwell (S1). The site is centred on TG 4995 0357. One of these trackways appears to run towards an enclosure, also possibly of late prehistoric date (NHER 45225). These cropmarks are located within an area of complex and multi-period cropmarks, see NHER 45216, including a dense area of possible Iron Age to Roman date fields and enclosures (NHER 45215).

The site consists of two trackways, one much more substantial than the other. The larger trackway runs from TG 4978 0339 to TG 5007 0358 and is defined by slightly irregular and curvilinear ditches up to 14m apart. The morphology of this trackway compares well with other trackways recorded in this area (NHER 43529, 43544 and 45178-9). These other examples have all been interpreted as being late prehistoric in date also. The eastern end of this trackway may have been incorporated into a later, possibly Iron Age to Roman, field system (NHER 45215) as the line of the trackway appears to be continued by a much more regular trackway.

The northern and less substantial trackway, which runs from TG 4992 0358 to TG 5007 0363, is also defined by two irregular ditches, 2-4m apart. This trackway appears to head towards an incomplete polygonal enclosure (NHER 45225), however no definite relationship can be drawn as the western end of the trackway kinks to the south approximately 20m to the east of the enclosure ditches.
S. Massey (NMP), 01 November 2006.

January 2017. Geophysical Survey
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a number of linear responses at the northern end of this field, including several north-east to south-west aligned responses that clearly correspond with the more substantial of these two trackways. An east-to-west aligned anomaly to the north coincides with the second trackway. These anomalies do not extend beyond the recorded limits of the cropmarks.
See report (S2) and NHER 67115 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 11 June 2023.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S3) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.