NHER 64449 (Landscape record) - Probable former medieval open-field strips

Unusual, narrow, enclosed strip of land, the eastern and southern sides of which coincide with the Long Stratton/Morningthorpe and Fritton parish boundary.
This parcel of land probably represents the fossilised outline of what was once one or two strips within a medieval open field, with its gently-curving, somewhat sinuous boundaries preserving the form of the original strip(s). Rather than being deliberately enclosed itself, it is possible that this strip was glebe land that was left behind when a larger group of strips to the west was enclosed. It is of interest as it provides clear evidence that even the heaviest clays in south Norfolk were being farmed as open fields in the Middle Ages. It also serves as a good example of how the disappearance of these open fields from the landscape was often through the gradual consolidation and hedging of strips and not necessarily the result of parliamentary enclosure (or other planned reorganisations of the landscape).
Information primarily from T. Williamson (UEA), see correspondence (S1) in file [1].

It has been noted that the alignment of this medieval field seems to be consistent with those that appear to make up the coaxial, potentially ancient 'Scole-Dickleborough' field system identified to the south (principally from cartographic sources). The same can also be said for a number of the other, similarly-aligned, sinuous field boundaries in the vicinity that may also represent the fossilised lines of medieval features. Although the coherence and origins of this 'field system' continue to be a matter of debate, it seems probable that it developed around a coaxial arrangement of track or drove ways running between upland and lowland areas, the origins of which could be fairly early (though not necessarily pre-Roman as initially suggested).
P. Watkins (HES), 3 September 2020.