NHER 43729 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks of medieval to post medieval field boundaries and drainage ditches

June 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks of boundary ditches and banks of probable medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). These earthworks lie to the north of Hillhouse Farm and are centred on TM 3082 9387. The eastern part of this group of earthworks is dominated by north to south and west to east aligned ditches and banks. It is likely that these relate to medieval to post medieval drainage ditches and field boundaries. None of these features are marked on the 1839 Hedenham tithe map (S3). Also in the eastern part of the group is a pond and associated curvilinear ditch earthworks. The pond is shown on the first edition ordnance survey 6 inch to the mile map dating to the 1880s (S4). Ditch and bank earthworks on a north to south and west to east alignment are also present in the western part of the group. It is likely that these also represent field boundaries of medieval to post medieval date. A curvilinear ditch earthwork extends on a roughly southwest to northeast alignment between TM 3073 9377 3081 9400. Neither this ditch nor a further curvilinear ditch joining its western side are marked on the tithe or later maps. These earthworks probably also relate to drainage ditches or boundary features and are likely to be of medieval to early post medieval date. A short section of southwest to northeast aligned ditch earthwork located at TM 3075 9398 corresponds to a field boundary marked on the tithe and first edition Ordnance Survey maps (S3-S4). It is possible that the medieval to post medieval boundaries relate to Hillhouse Farm (NHER 30764) immediately to the south. These fields had been ploughed and the earthworks levelled by 1967 (S5). However, the ditches were still visible as soilmarks at that date. Other earthworks of probable medieval to post medieval date were located to the east of Seething Road (NHER 43730-1).
J. Albone (NMP), 07 June 2006