NHER 44877 (Monument record) - Medieval to post medieval field boundaries

July 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks and soilmarks of a series of medieval to post medieval field boundaries are visible on aerial photographs to the south of Burgh Road (S1-S6). The site is centred on TM 4768 9376, although this point does not correspond to an archaeological feature associated with this site on the ground. These cropmarks sit within a wider spread of multi-phase cropmarks, see NHER 44878 and 44886 for details.

Running from TM 4767 9385 to TM 4711 9418 is the soilmarks of a former boundary bank. This bank material forms a strip up to 10m wide, although this is likely to represent spreading of the material by the plough and not the original width. This feature is only visible on the early aerial photographs (S1-S2) and has presumably been ploughed out completely on later photography. The alignment of this boundary overlies one of the enclosure ditches associated with the probable Roman settlement (NHER 16605). Field boundaries still in active use, such as at TM 4772 9382, are also aligned the same as cropmark examples of apparent Roman date. It is therefore possible that some components of the Roman landscape, such as field boundaries, stayed in active use for long enough to influence the more recent landscape. A number of perpendicular field boundaries either side of this boundary and many are aligned slightly off from those marked on the Ordnance Survey second edition map (S7). This gives the impression that the boundaries were straightened during the post medieval period, probably in association with the parliamentary enclosure. One remaining boundary does retain the slight curve, running from TM 4759 9417 to TM 4753 9399. The line of this boundary is then continued to TM 4742 9381, by a slightly curved ditch running across the top of the Roman settlement cropmark (NHER 16005). This pattern is mirrored in the cropmark field boundary running from TM 4730 9426 to TM 4715 9398 to the west. The boundaries obviously pre-date the 1842 Burgh St. Peter Tithe map (S8) and the slight curve of the fields could indicate that they are medieval in origin.

To the east, centred on TM 4775 9361, is another soilmark of former boundary banks. Further to the east at TM 4815 9363 is another group of field boundaries that join up with those visible on the Ordnance Survey second edition map (S7). At the eastern end of the site is another cropmark field boundary that is also likely to date to this later period. The cropmarks show an L-shaped ditch running from TM 4847 9364 to TM 4838 9356, having the appearance of the edge of an enclosed area. The ditch is quite irregular and broad along this section, but then continues to the edge to the field as a narrow, straight and uniform ditch. This ditch has the appearance of a post medieval field boundary. The irregular nature of the northern ditch section could imply that it is incorporating an earlier land division, possibly of medieval date. Although some doubt remains over the date of this feature as it is located within a palimpsest cropmark area and therefore it may be associated with adjacent cropmarks, see NHER 44886 for details.
S. Massey (NMP), 24 July 2006.