NHER 54675 (Monument record) - Earthworks of a medieval to post medieval strip field and land boundaries

March 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of a former medieval to post medieval boundary ditch or track are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S4) to the north of The Street at Ashwellthorpe. The site is centred on TM 1354 9769 and is located to the immediate south of an area of ancient woodland (NHER 49114). Assessment of the available historic maps, in particular Faden’s map of 1797 (S5) and the 1842 Ashwellthorpe Tithe map (S6) indicated that this area of ‘ancient’ woodland defined on the map has expanded and contracted a number of times and a significant part of the area defined as ‘ancient woodland’ does not appear to have been woodland in 1797. Although it is not entirely clear it is possible that the ditch visible on aerial photographs on the aerial photographs defined the boundary between Ashwell Thorpe Common and the woodland in the medieval - post medieval period. However the area of this site is shown as being included within the woodland on the 1842 Ashwellthorpe Tithe map (S6), which could suggest that the earthwork relates to a narrow trackway or hollow way running alongside the edge of the woodland towards The Street.
The earthworks are still extant to a degree in 1995 (S4). No definite traces of it were visible on later photography available on Google Earth, however it is feasible that it still exists as a shallow earthwork.
S. Horlock (NMP), 07 March 2012.