NHER 38769 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of undated trackways, ditches and field system

September 2004. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of undated, possibly Roman or medieval to post medieval, trackways, ditches and field system are visible on aerial photographs (S1 to S6). Some of these cropmarks were previously recorded as part of NHER 36765. They are centred around TG 3807 3026. A roughly south to north aligned trackway extends for 172m between TG 3794 3013 and TG 3791 3030. A single ditch may continue its line for a further 100m to the north. A ditch extending to the west of the trackway and a second ditch aligned parallel to it, suggest that it formed part of a coaxial field system. Further north to south aligned ditches are present 150m to the east of the trackway. These may form part of a contemporary field system, particularly around TG 3807 3044 where east to west ditches are also present. A further part of this field system is centred around TG 3817 3003 where east to west ditches join a north to south ditch. An intermittent northeast to southwest ditch also appears to join the eastern side of the trackway at TG 3792 3027. A second possible trackway cropmark extends for 72m on a northwest to southeast alignment between TG 3778 3033 and TG 3784 3030. Other ditches on a similar alignment are present to its northwest (S6). A double-ditched field boundary cropmark extends for at least 150m between TG 3815 3014 and TG 3811 3029. The western ditch is wider (over 2m) and extends further to the north than the eastern ditch. At its northern end the western ditch turns to the northeast for 23m. It is possible that the eastern ditch also turns to the northeast 8m further to the south. Although these ditches are not marked on the 1834 Happisburgh tithe or later maps (S7), they are aligned roughly parallel to the road to the east and may be of early post medieval date. Although the date of the trackway and field system is uncertain its alignment is similar to an Iron Age to Roman trackway and field system recorded 700m to the west (NHER 38730). However, it is also possible that the trackway and field system may be of medieval to post medieval date.
J. Albone (NMP), 1 September 2004.