NHER 26921 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of undated linear banks

May 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Three linear banks are visible as cropmarks on Ordnance Survey 1972 aerial photographs (S1). (These are the only aerial photographs that they are particularly clear on). They run from a)TF7103 4158 to TF7101 4123, b)TF7149 4167 to TF7142 4142 and c)TF7169 4125 to TF7195 4126 (a and b are aligned approximately north-south, while c is aligned west-east).
The origin and function of these features are unknown. However, it seems possible that they may represent trackways or are even some form of much ploughed out relict field boundaries (though this is not certain). They are not shown on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map (S2). However, in places, they do seem to show some relation to field boundaries still in use today. For example c. is aligned with a track marked on the modern Ordnance Survey base map (S3) (a field boundary on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey), it has the appearance of once being a possible continuation of this track. Though in other locations they do not fit as well with what can be seen on the modern and 2nd edition Ordnance Survey maps, and would suggest an earlier date. The dating of these features is hard, but it does seem likely that, if they do represent field boundaries or tracks, they may be at least post medieval.
(These are sketch plotted due to a problem with control points for mapping as only large Ordnance Survey images were available).
H. Clare (NMP) 13 May 2002.