NHER 49180 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a rectilinear field system of possible Roman date

December 2006. Norfolk NMP
Cropmarks of a rectilinear field system of possible Roman date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). These cropmarks are centred on TG 3013 1919. Cropmarks of field boundary ditches forming part of an incomplete rectilinear field system are present on a west northwest to east southeast alignment. A group of five incomplete fields that are centred on TG 3020 1930 form the core of the visible extent of the field system. They are cut by the 19th century railway lines making their full dimensions uncertain. However, it appears that they measure between 100m and 125m wide and between 114m and 143m long. Possible trackways on the same axis as the field system are present to the north and south of this block of fields. Further linear ditch cropmarks on the same parallel alignment are present to the south of the group. These suggest that at least two further rows of fields were present, each approximately 77m wide. Closely spaced parallel ditch cropmarks along the southern side of these fields may indicate another trackway. This field system appears to be regularly planned with parallel trackways which access one row of fields on each side. The fields back onto another rows of fields that are in turn accessed by another trackway. This creates a repetitive north to south pattern of a trackway, then two fields, then another trackway followed by two more fields. The fields on the north and south sides of the group are not clearly visible as cropmarks. A roughly southwest to northeast aligned ditch in the northeast of the group at TG 3051 1941 appears to link the field system to another trackway (NHER 49175). It is possible that these cropmarks form part an extensive, but perhaps intermittent, field system of Roman date. A trapezoidal enclosure of possible Roman date, which partly conforms to the alignment of the field system but appears to overlap one of the trackways, is present in the southeast part of the group (NHER 49182). An angled ditch to its south is probably of a similar date, but relating to a different phase to the main field system. The northwestern part of the field system is overlain by linear and curvilinear ditches probably relating to the medieval field pattern (NHER 49183).
J. Albone (NMP), 11 December 2006