NHER 26676 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post medieval flood defences

February 2001. Norfolk NMP.
A number of fragmentary sections of earthwork banks, which appear to once have formed two continuos banks running north to south, are visible around TF 82 44 to TF 83 45 on 1945 (S1) and 1946 (S2) aerial photography. The features appear to have been cut by a more recent bank (NHER 26670) running east to west. Some of the bank can be seen to the north of this more recent feature, as two near right angled sections. The banks running north to south appear to be following a watercourse and occasionally have an associated narrow ditch. The more southerly parts of this feature can be seen as an earthwork in a 1953 aerial photograph (S3), which was taken during a flood. Parts of the bank can be made out through the flood waters, with a few small areas not quite submerged.
Only a few sections of bank are depicted on historic maps. The sections of bank to the north of NHER 26670 are shown on an 1825 enclosure map of the area (S4), Along with most of the sections adjacent to the water course. However, only the sections north of NHER 26670 are depicted on the 1906 OS map (S5). This would suggets that the feature is in fact post medieval and has been superceded by NHER 26670 as a means of flood defence (which isn't always effective, see (S3)).
Given the location of these banks and the nature of this area, the banks most likely form some kind of early sea/flood defence system.
A. Hunt (Suffolk CC NMP), 1 February 2001.

May-November 2004. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey.
Inter-tidal survey (Environmental Zone 8), Context 709:
Three upright wooden planks were seen in a row aligned northwest to southeast. They were located 15m north of the modern sea wall (TF 77009 45196), embedded in the beach sand and were probably part of a former groyne.
Context 710:
A squared timber post was seen in-situ within the beach sand (TF 77046 45213).
Context 822:
A sea defence bank aligned east to west was located between TF 82880 45194 and TF 83278 45163. It was roughly 100m north of the modern sea bank and could only be viewed from distance. It may be shown on a map dated to 1825, but the illustration is not clear enough to be certain (S6).
See assessment report (S7) 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.

February 2005.
Unable to approach closely due to wet condition of the marsh. From a short distance, earthworks visible as a definite rise above the low lying marsh.
H. Paterson (A&E), 23 February 2005.