NHER 26902 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post medieval ridge and furrow and sea defence bank

January 2001, NMP.
An area of ridge and furrow is visible as an earthwork at TF 730 436 on 1945 APs (S1) and 1972 APs (S2). It is fairly narrow and regular, which would suggest a post medieval date. To the north of this feature is an earthwork bank, also visible on 1945 APs, at TF 7282 4380 to TF 7325 4373. The bank is about 500m in length, shares characteristics with banks NHER 26901 and 26762, and forms a boundary between the saltmarshes and cultivated land. These factors suggest that it is part of the post medieval sea defence/land reclamation which was occurring in the area. This is further supported by the depiction of the bank on the 2nd edition OS map of 1905 (S3) and on Bryant's 1826 map (S4). A number of ditches can also be seen in this area on the APs. Most appear to be drainage ditches, although some are quite short. At TF 731 437, there is a group of four 'rectangular' ditches, which may also have been for drainage. A rectangular bank can be seen at TF 7312 4371 - TF 7312 4368, abutting the main bank feature - again function and date are unclear.
A. Hunt (NMP), 25 January 2001.

May-November 2004. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey.
Inter-tidal survey (Environmental Zone 7), Context 1036:
Modern sea bank located on the southern edge of Thornham saltmarshes. It may overlie an earlier bank.
See assessment report (S5) for further details.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.421).
J. Allen (NLA), 15 April 2005. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2019.