NHER 52393 (Monument) - Earthworks of banks and ditches, possibly drainage features, water meadows or ridge and furrow

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of an area of either post medieval water meadows, drainage or medieval ridge and furrow are visible on aerial photographs (S1). The site is centred on TG 2921 0376 and is located on the valley floor alongside a minor watercourse, the Beck.
The site consists of a series of parallel banks or ridges, that are between 6-9m across, with drains or furrows between the ridges. These earthworks are cut across by a twentieth century drain. The positioning of these earthworks alongside the Beck on the valley floor would suggest that they relate to water meadows, although it is not clear how these would have functioned in relationship to any feeder channels. The closely-set parallel banks have the appearance of medieval ridge and furrow, although the location on the alongside the Beck makes this interpretation unlikely and it may be that they are the result of an elaborate attempt at drainage. These earthworks appear to have been levelled by 1976 (S2).
S. Horlock (NMP), 03 November 2009.