NHER 54638 (Monument record) - Site of trapezoidal enclosure, possibly a stock enclosure, of probable Iron Age to Roman date

June 2011. Norfolk NMP.
A trapezoidal enclosure, perhaps a stock enclosure, of unknown but possibly Iron Age to Roman date, is visible as cropmarks and soilmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S3), centred at TG 1141 0489. The enclosure’s relatively large size, its lack of any visible internal features and the external bank visible as a soilmark along its northern and eastern sides on (S2) are all suggestive of its function as a stock enclosure, rather than being used for settlement for example. No entrance is apparent, although this is likely to be due to the cropmarks being insufficiently clear. In its general morphology the enclosure is reminiscent of other enclosures identified in Norfolk (and elsewhere) known or thought to be of Iron Age and/or Roman date, although it could in truth date to any period from the Bronze Age (compare the enclosure at Ormesby St Michael, NHER 30626) to the post medieval. More compelling is the fact that the parish boundary appears to partially respect its southern side, overlapping with the south-western corner, while part of the eastern side of the enclosure corresponds with a field boundary depicted on the Enclosure Map (S4). This appears to indicate that the enclosure pre-dates the historic field pattern and the establishment of the parish boundary but remained visible when these were laid out, suggesting that an Iron Age and/or Roman date is plausible.
The enclosure is an irregular trapezoid in plan, measuring approximately 136m long and up to 132m wide, but with a maximum internal area of only 119m by 110m. Field boundaries (or similar) leading from its north-western and south-western corners could be contemporary features, or later boundaries laid out making use of the enclosure as a pre-existing barrier. The boundary leading from the south-western corner is embanked and could represent an earlier incarnation of the parish boundary, one that fully respected the south-western corner of the enclosure.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 9 June 2011.