NHER 27791 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post medieval earthwork banks and drainage ditches

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
A group of post medieval earthwork banks are visible on aerial photographs alongside the River Stiffkey (S1-S2). These are all likely to be associated with the drainage and improvement of the Stiffkey river valley, which would have presumably have been a tidal estuary prior to the construction of the coastal sea banks and Stiffkey Sluices to the northeast. The land is depicted as saltmarsh on Faden’s map of 1797 (S3).
A linear bank is visible running along the south bank of the river from TF 9751 4285 to TF 9832 4344. The bank varies in width from 4 to 7m. The line of this earthwork is depicted on the 2nd edition map (25 inch, 1902-7) (S4). The linear feature of the bank may be continued from TF 9833 4346 to TF 9859 4357 and is between 3 and 4m wide. Several perpendicular stretches of bank are visible, although these are quite dilapidated by comparison and may be earlier. Two stretches of bank run from TF 9759 4288 to TF 9761 4285 and another more complete bank from TF 9763 4292 to TF 9768 4289. The clearest bank runs alongside a drainage channel for 110m between TF 9775 4366 to TF 9783 4359. A shorter perpendicular bank also runs from TF 9804 4366 to TF 9800 4362. A curvilinear stretch of bank lies between these two. Its sinuous course may indicate that it ran alongside a natural creek. Towards the eastern end of the site is an L-shaped bank, running from TF 9821 4333 to TF 9824 4330, 41m, and then continuing for a further 47m to TF 9826 4334. This bank is 6.5m wide.
Two ditched features have been selected out of all the remains of successive drainage channels as being areas of potential interest. At TF 9842 4348 is a 38m square enclosed area defined by drainage ditches. Later, more modern, drains have since cut these ditches. Also running from TF 9768 4333 to TF 9775 4337 and then continuing to TF 9778 4333 is a large drainage channel or ditch. The earthworks are up to 7m across.
S. Massey (NMP), 17 March 2003.