NHER 27957 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Undated banks and ditches

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Group of linear earthworks features consisting of banks and ditches traversing the heath, visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1) and 1950 (S2) and OS aerial photographs from 1969 (S3). The linears all show as intermittent and interrupted features, although it is presumed that they would have originally been continuous. The most extensive linear consists of a fragmentary bank flanked by an intermittent ditch to either side. The line of five bank sections run from TG 0723 4208 to TG 0751 4196, with the northern ditch continuing the line to TG 0764 4194. Another linear ditch runs from TG 0744 4185 to a sunken area centred on TG 0775 4184. Towards the eastern end the ditch becomes part of a set of closely set banks and ditches, five banks wide. It is possible due to their arrangement that they may be agricultural ridge and furrow from a previous period of cultivation. A circular embanked feature has been constructed within the sunken area, but partially cut into the southern bank at TG 0774 4184. The structure is 7m in diameter and the banks are 2m wide, with an entrance to north-west. It is possible that this is a World War Two gun emplacement, although the feature does not look particularly recent on the RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1). It is possible that it is post-medieval in date and possible industrial in origin. To the south of these is a group of three broad parallel, but irregular banks, running roughly from TG 0763 4177 to TG 0780 4178. These banks are up to 9m wide and again may be agricultural in origin. However they do line up with a possible trackway to the south (NHER 17956), which is potentially pre-medieval in date. Several other fragments of bank ditch are visible within this area and it is possible that they were more extensive than is visible through the vegetation. There are several other groups of these linear features on the heath (NHER 27956-9), some of which are quite closely set and could perhaps be the remains of features similar to ridge and furrow. Although the majority, in particular this site, have the appearance of trackways or droveways. The dating of these features is quite hard at present, although some do seem to have some antiquity (see NHER 27956). The features whilst similar may represents several periods or phases of activity. Many of these features seem to represent routes across the heath which were used persistently over a reasonable length of time.
S. Massey (NMP), 8 May 2003.