NHER 52204 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Part of kite-shaped enclosure around Venta Icenorum

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a possible segment of the triple ditch defences at Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786) are visible on aerial photographs to the northeast of the town (S1). These triple ditches which prior to the NMP were only recognised to the south and east of the town (NHER 52202) were interpreted as an early Roman military fort that pre-dated the establishment of the town, but it has been suggested that these are more likely to relate to town defences which may have formed a kite-shaped enclosure around the town, see the parent record NHER 52201 for detailed discussion. Nearly all sections of these four separate triple ditch defences (NHER 52202-4) measure 17-18m across in total, with ditches generally between 2-4m across. Given their proximity, alignments and this similarity in size and positioning it seems reasonable to suggest that they are part of the same defensive scheme and potentially even the same defensive enclosure. To the northeast of the town this segment of the triple ditches were identified at TG 2346 0386, possibly indicating another turning point of the system, was fortuitously captured on the edge of a photo of Caistor Hall (S1). The triple ditch segment identified is quite small and therefore some uncertainty must remain as its relationship with the other more extensive triple ditches. However its dimensions broadly match those exhibited elsewhere and the turn of the ditches suggested by the plan does coincide directly with the angle of the ditches to the north of the town walls. It is worth mentioning that the straight sections of the ditches to roughly correspond with the layout of strip fields on the 1840 Caistor St Edmund Tithe map (S2), however the turn of the ditches suggests that this is a coincidence and is likely to be a product of the continuation of the alignments associated with the town in the later landscape. The strip fields also run perpendicular to the Stoke Road (NHER 52272), which is thought to be Roman in origin. See NHER 52201 for discussion of the bisecting relationship of this road and the suggested kite-shaped defences and analogies with other Roman town sites such as Verulamium at St Albans.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.