NHER 52061 (Cropmark and Earthwork) - Post medieval field boundaries

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
A large area of post medieval field boundaries, land and possibly also property divisions are visible on aerial photographs to the east of Swardeston village (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 2059 0275. A number of these boundaries are marked on the 1847 Swardeston Tithe map (S5), however the aerial photographs reveal additional details and boundaries, in particular in the fields adjacent to the village, where feasibly these cropmarks might represent additional property boundaries.

The field boundaries mapped to the east of the road all appear to form earlier components of the field layout depicted on the Tithe map, which form slightly sinuous blocks of land. It is feasible given the sinuous nature of the boundaries that they are medieval in origin or perhaps reference an earlier layout. Centred on TG 2037 0268, immediate adjacent to the village of Swardeston, is a rectilinear enclosure, 60m by approximately 50m. A number of associated ditches, possibly defining smaller enclosed annexes of land, are also visible around the main enclosed area. It seems likely that this enclosure represents a property boundary of late medieval to post medieval date, although it may just have had an agricultural function, such as a paddock.
S. Horlock (NMP), 30 April 2009.