NHER 38322 (Monument record) - Earthworks of possible post-medieval flood defence banks

August 2003. NMP.
Group of earthworks of possible post-medieval date visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1945 (S1) and 1947 (S2) and BKS aerial photographs from 1988 (S3-4). These roughly parallel banks are located either side of the River Nar. The banks continue to the south into TF 61SW, although at present they have only been mapped and recorded as far as they appear in TF 61NW. The bank along the western side of the Nar is currently recorded as running up from TF 61704 15000 to TF 61679 16406. To the north three further fragmentary stretches of bank are visible running from TF to 61864 17239 to TF 62141 18014. To the eastern side of the river is another fragmentary stretch of bank, visible in four sections, running from TF 61750 15000 to TF 62208 17884. The line of this bank is continued to the north and is recorded under NHER 38234. These banks vary in width from 1m to 9m.
The lines of both these banks are depicted on the 2nd edition map (1902-7, 25") (S5). The fragmentary banks that are depicted on the map as continuous features. In one or two locations, secondary, outer sections of bank were depicted that were not visible on the aerial photographs. To the north the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (NHER 13581) and the King's Lynn Harbour Branch Railway (NHER 13593) cut both sets of banks. The Harbour Railway dates back to 1849, so the banks are obviously earlier. A post-medieval date has been suggested for these flood defences along the river, although it is possible that they are much earlier, perhaps medieval.
M. Brennand (NMP), 12 August 2003.