NHER 42422 (Monument) - Post medieval drainage ditches

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of curvilinear and linear ditches and channels of probable post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1). These earthworks are centred on TG 4898 0883 in an area of former marshland. A total of seven sections of ditch are present within this group of earthworks. An angled ditch is present in the western part of the group at TG 4883 0883. This ditch was still extant in 1955 (S1). But forms part of the post medieval drainage pattern. Also extant in 1955 was a narrow curvilinear ditch that extends for 188m between the road and railway line on a southwest to northeast alignment. Further sections of this ditch to the north of the road and south of the railway line were only present as earthworks and are not marked on the second edition 6 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map (S2). Adjoining this ditch are earthworks of other linear ditches. One of these continues the line of a drainage ditch to the north of the turnpike road. This indicates that the ditches pre-date the construction of the road in the 1820s. It is likely that all of these ditches are of post medieval date.
J. Albone (NMP), 19 January 2006