NHER 66449 (Monument record) - Undated field system and possible traces of medieval or early post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation

October 2020-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Area 9).
This survey identified a number of adjoining north-north-east to south-south-west and west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies that almost certainly represent infilled field boundary ditches. The age of this field system is though uncertain. The regular, extensive nature of the features suggests they are unlikely to be of great antiquity, although none coincide with any of the former field boundaries depicted on the available 19th-centruy maps.
A dense group of other, regularly-spaced west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies present in the northern half of the site are thought to represent traces of medieval or early post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation. It is notable that this group of anomalies appears to be bounded to the south by one of the probable field boundaries, with only a smaller number of widely disperse possible examples present to the south.
The small number of other linear anomalies recorded are thought to be either natural in origin or the result of recent agricultural activity.
Scattered dipolar anomalies are likely to have been caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 November 2022.

July 2021. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potentially impact of proposed Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline.
For further details see report (S2), which was submitted as part of the Environmental Statement for the scheme.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 November 2022.

September 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Trenches 31-35).
The northernmost of the four trenches excavated at this location revealed a series of regularly-spaced, west-north-west to east-south-east aligned plough furrows that clearly correspond with the linear geophysical anomalies recorded in this part of the site. Further south a pair of similarly-aligned ditches were recorded, one of which corresponds with one of the linear geophysical anomalies that had been thought to represent infilled field boundary ditches. Unfortunately none of these features produced any dating evidence.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 November 2022.