NHER 42417 (Monument record) - Earthworks of medieval to post medieval drainage ditches, banks and pits

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of curvilinear and linear drainage ditches and channels of probable medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1) to (S4). These earthworks are centred on TG 4964 0847 in an area of former marshland. Many of the curvilinear ditches and banks closely follow the line of extant drainage ditches. The extant curvilinear drainage ditch that is crossed by the railway line at TG 4909 0805 and extends to at least TG 5004 0892 is the surviving course of the Halvergate Fleet, a major natural channel across the marshland. It is joined from the west by the course of the Northern Rond channel at TG 4900 0819 and an unnamed curvilinear ditch or channel from the south at TG 4972 0855. These natural channels formed the basis for the later drainage pattern and parish boundaries (S6).

The visible earthworks comprise of a group of drainage ditches and banks, many of which are aligned adjacent or parallel to the extant ditches of the former channels. In the southern part of the group, an additional curvilinear drainage ditch extends from TG 4911 0809 to TG 4963 0852. This ditch forms the northern side of a small rectangular enclosure, probably a medieval stock enclosure, at TG 4951 0854 (NHER 42162). This ditch, and several of the others, was marked on the second edition 6 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map (S5). Another curvilinear ditch, which is not marked on this map extends for 500m on a northwest to southeast alignment between TG 4936 0891 and TG 4974 0861. This ditch is cut by the line of the Norwich to Great Yarmouth railway that opened in 1883. In the northeast part of the group the earthwork banks are wider and more prominent. These banks are flanked by drainage ditches. These earthworks are cut by both the 1883 railway line and the parallel turnpike road, which was constructed in the 1820s. Prior to the opening of this road, the main route between Norwich and Great Yarmouth ran on top of the banks or ‘walls’ alongside the Halvergate Fleet (S6). It is likely that the broad banks visible as earthworks on the aerial photographs mark the course of this medieval to post medieval route. The curvilinear drainage ditches associated with the natural channels across the marshland probably also have a medieval to post medieval origin. Linear drainage ditch earthworks are also present in this area. Two intermittent ditches are present in the south of the group between TG 4916 0809 and TG 4944 0801 and TG 4919 0800 and TG 4937 0839. Both of these ditches appear to be cut by the adjacent 1844 railway line and neither are marked on the second edition 6 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map (S5). However, it is likely that these and the other linear drainage ditches are of post medieval date.
Adjacent to the junction of several ditches around TG 4982 0867 are three small rectangular pits. These are approximately 2m wide and vary from 2m to 13m in length. Their position on the marshland suggests that they are probably of medieval to post medieval date but their function is unknown.
Several of the fields containing these earthworks had been ploughed and the earthworks levelled by 1970. However, many of the ditches and banks were still clearly visible as soilmarks (S4).
J. Albone (NMP), 26 January 2006.

January-February 2023. Earthwork Survey.
Analytical earthwork survey undertaken ahead of proposed habitat improvement works.
Only one group of features in this group fell within the area examined – the sinuous north-north-east to south-south-west aligned bank and ditch running between TG 4957 0834 and TG 4953 0788. These features could be clearly seen to lie adjacent to a broad band of lower ground but there was little clear evidence for the recorded bank and ditch themselves.
See report (S7) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 August 2024.