NHER 52479 (Monument record) - Possible remnants of presumably medieval and/or post medieval ridge and furrow or lynchets

February 2010. Norfolk NMP.
Possible traces of former ridge and furrow or lynchets are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred at TG 2490 0517. The may also be just visible on aerial photographs (S3)-(S5), although these are far less clear. The identification of the earthworks as cultivation features is far from certain, and on current evidence it is not possible to discount the possibility that they are wholly or partly of natural or recent origin. If their interpretation as ridge and furrow or, more probably, lynchets is correct, however, a medieval or post medieval date seems likely (although again, an earlier date cannot be ruled out); nothing is marked here on the consulted historic maps. Given this potential date, the proximity of the medieval settlements of Arminghall (9877)) and Bixley (NHER 9660) less than 1km to the southeast should be borne in mind.
Two furrows or risers are visible, defining three ridges or treads. These are orientated at a slight angle to the surrounding modern field boundaries, but cut across the slope of the field at a perpendicular angle. The field encloses a small, relatively steeply-sloped dip towards its northeastern end, which the available contour data is unfortunately too crude to capture but which is clearly visible when the photographs are viewed in stereo; it is this that the furrows or lynchets cut across. The present condition of the site, which is now wooded, is not known. Although not visible on an aerial photograph from 1964 (S6), this could be due to poor light conditions and the inability to view in stereo, rather than the earthworks having been levelled.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 1 February 2010.