NHER 38876 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post medieval earthworks

October 2004. Norfolk NMP.
An area of post medieval earthworks is visible on aerial photographs, located along the cliffs to the west of Cromer (S1 and S2). These consist of a series of low banked boundaries, some of which are depicted on the 2nd edition map (1902-7) (S3), and small conjoined enclosed areas. These enclosures are likely to have been stock enclosures associated with grazing land on the cliff tops. These earthworks became quite heavily integrated into the World War Two activity in the area, with a variety of gun emplacement and defences getting placed within them, see NHER 38877 for details.

The site is centred on TG 2120 4242. The main component of the site is an earthwork bank running from TG 2115 4247 to TG 2116 4240. This is marked on the 2nd edition map (1902-7, 25") (S3). This is up to 4.5m wide in places. A parallel bank is located 11m to the east. The northern area in-between the two banks has been subdivided by an internal bank. This divisions seems consistent with two breaks in the main bank. These gaps may have acted as entrances into the small enclosed areas. Although due to the all the intrusive military features it is impossible to tell is these are breaks in the bank are original. However the boundary on the 2nd edition map is depicted as being continuous. A further conjoined rectangular enclosed area, measuring 17m by 14m, has been tacked onto the western side of the southern end of the boundary. These enclosures are likely to have been stock enclosures associated with grazing land on the cliff tops. Similar features have been recorded along the cliff tops to the west under NHER 38886.

To the west of the site, centred on TG 2124 4244, is a rectangular enclosed area defined by banks. This surrounds the coastguard station buildings, see NHER 38877 for details. It is possible that this set of structures have been placed within an existing enclosure, possibly relating to former land divisions and stock enclosures on the cliff tops, see NHER 38886 for similar earthworks.

A low earthwork bank and ditch are visible running diagonally across the site, from TG 2118 4246 to TG 2122 4242, towards a group of mounds, which are thought to be World War Two in date (NHER 38877). This earthwork does not appear fresh enough to be entirely related to the military phase of activity on the site and therefore must be earlier and possible post medieval also.
S. Massey (NMP), 19 October 2004.