NHER 43591 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The cropmarks of a possible Roman road or major land boundary

April 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a road or major boundary of either Roman or medieval to post medieval date is visible on aerial photographs in the Belton with Browston and Bradwell parishes (S1-S5). The site is centred on TG 4962 0236. This incredibly straight linear feature is constructed from parallel multiple ditches and either banked or compacted surfaces. It is 1.6km long and runs from TG 4883 0219 to TG 5041 0258. The straightness of the road or boundary could indicate that it is Roman in date. The alignment of this road or boundary is mirrored by a large area of fields and enclosures to the north and south (NHER 43592), suggesting that the fields are, in origin at least, associated with this road. However the general alignment of these field boundaries also continues into the post medieval landscape and it is possible that some of the boundaries are quite late in the sequence. It is possible that the road or boundary is itself entirely medieval to post medieval in date, the fact the western end joins up with the ‘Back Lane’, a sinuous trackway to the south of Hall Farm, could also suggest a medieval date. Although conversely a pre-medieval to post medieval date is again suggested by the relationship with the Beccles Road, which is the main road from Great Yarmouth to Beccles. This main road and Browston Lane to the east clearly cuts across the cropmarks of the road and associated fields (NHER 43592). The Beccles Road is shown on the 1783 Hodskinson’s map (S6) as following the same route as it does today, although it is possible that there was a major re-organisation of the medieval to post medieval roads in this area earlier than this. However it is also worth noting that the cropmark road or boundary also crosses and ignores the parish boundary between Belton with Browston and Bradwell, this again would indicate a pre-medieval date for the linear.

An obvious alternative interpretation for a straight linear feature that cuts across fields and roads without any obvious deviation is a modern pipeline. However this linear feature is visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1944 (S1), as well as oblique aerial photographs from the 1970-90s (S2-S5). Also there appears to be well-established trees growing on or extremely near to the lines of the ditches. It is unlikely that trees would have had sufficient time to grow directly over a modern pipeline.

Another interesting aspect of the possible road is its shared orientation with an area of cropmark field boundaries 1.6km to the southeast (NHER 43495). This site consists of an area of co-axial and planned fields, which have been interpreted as being Roman in date, possibly mid to late Roman. The northern part of the field system is the most regular and the main area of fields appears to run up to and stop at a relatively broad ditch, running southwest-northeast. The alignment of this boundary forms one of the main axis for the planned field system, especially the northern part. The western boundary of this planned field system is formed by a straight trackway, perpendicular to this ditch, which has possibly developed from an earlier and more sinuous trackway (NHER 43501). There is a marked similarity in the alignment of the possible Roman road and the northern boundary of the planned field system and while they are not aligned identically to one another, there is 8° difference, the two linears and associated field system do appear to have a common characteristics. Despite the slight difference in the angles of these two boundaries, many of the ditches running roughly perpendicular to them at both sites, follow the exact alignment. Whilst this shared alignment alone cannot be seen as evidence of a single phase of Roman planning, it could suggest that a possible Roman road, running towards the coast at Gorleston, may have had a significant and continued effect on the landscape of this area. This possible road heads towards the lower ground on what would have been the western margins of the tidal estuary during the Roman period. The road may have led to a tidal inlet off the main estuary.

Another interesting feature of the possible Roman road or boundary is the relationship it was with another straight boundary ditch (NHER 43593) to the east. The two linear features meet at TG 5042 0258, at which point the strong cropmark of the road ditch or boundary ceases to be visible, giving a strong impression that it is the intersection and joining of two comparable landscape features, either two tracks or two boundaries. The other ditch (43593) continues as a broad ditch for approximately 60m to the west, a narrower ditch along the same alignment may continue for another 70m, although the linear is not as straight and well-defined. This second ditch is also incredibly straight and appears to pre-date roads and field boundaries of at least post medieval date. Although it is not certain, it is felt that this boundary is also Roman in date.

The road or boundary varies in its appearance on the aerial photographs along its route; the eastern section is only visible as a single ditch, whilst the western section indicates a broad central ditch, up to 5m in places, flanked by two narrower outer ditches. Banks or compacted linear features accompany these ditches for most of the length. Towards the eastern end of the feature fragmentary sections of a single bank are visible. However at the western end the cropmarks reveal two banks, one either side of the central ditch, both 3.5-4m wide. At TG 4893 0220, the banked or compacted surface is continuous and 8m wide. This coincides with a break and slight change of angle in the central ditch. Although not as definite, a similar continuation of the bank under the central ditch may be suggested at TG 4911 0223. It is therefore possible that the banked or compacted surface was, in some places at least, continuous. If this straight linear feature did act as a road then a wide compacted base with side ditches would be expected, such as the characteristic agger on Roman roads. It is possible that this central ‘ditch’ is a hollow created from repeated movement and traffic across a road surface over time. The variation in its width and path, coupled with the discontinuous nature, could also suggest the gradual creation of a hollow rather than an actual cut ditch. It is entirely possible that even if this road or track is originally Roman in date, it could have stayed in use for a considerable time afterwards. The fact that it links up with ‘Back Lane’ suggests that at least part of this route has continued in use until the modern day. The more meandering path of this road is probably also indicative of a long history of use.
S. Massey (NMP), 24 April 2006.

May 2018. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed route of Lound to Gorleston Water Pipeline.
This work identified a ditch that corresponded with the single cropmark running between TG 5000 0247 and TG 5042 0258. This substantial feature was 5m wide and 1.16m deep and contained a sequence of deposits likely to represent gradual, natural infilling. Finds were limited to a single worked flint.
See NHER 63595 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 September 2019.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S7) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.