NHER 39142 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of undated possible enclosure

December 2004. Norfolk NMP.
A possible rectangular enclosure, trackway and linear ditch cropmarks, are visible on aerial photographs to the east of Broom Hill Plantation, East Runton, near the parish boundary with Cromer (S1-2). The date of these cropmarks is unknown. The date of these cropmarks is unknown, although it is possible that the enclosure and associated trackway may be Romano-British in origin. However it is also possible, due to the regularity of the features, that a medieval to post medieval date could be also be applied.

The site is centred on TG 2069 4178. At TG 2066 4173 is an incomplete rectangular or rectilinear enclosure, measuring at least 48m by 25m (S2). This appears to have a conjoined square enclosure to the southeast, 19m by 16m, and a possible internal subdividing ditch. To the north is a further linear ditch, which is perpendicular to the main axis of the enclosure. Two parallel ditches, possibly forming a trackway, can be seen to run for approximately 50m from TG 2062 4180 to TG 2065 4185. The alignment of this trackway is roughly perpendicular with that of the enclosure axis. Centred on TG 2079 4177 are a pair of conjoined linears, on a slightly different alignment to the rest of the site.

These cropmarks are quite hard to discern and identify from amongst the more dominant cropmarks formed by the glacially derived geological. It is possible that some of the cropmarks mapped as also geological in origin and have been misinterpreted due to them having linear or rectilinear elements. The rectangular enclosure is only discernible on one aerial photograph, for which no stereo pair was available (S2). Only geological looking cropmarks were visible within this vicinity on other aerial photographs. Although there did not appear to be any obvious agricultural or recent activity that could have formed the features.
See (S1-2).
S. Massey (NMP) 21 December 2004.