NHER 66695 (Monument record) - Undated possible settlement, post-medieval field boundaries and remains associated with World War Two airfield

November 2016. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological impact of large proposed development.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 November 2023.

October 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Area 3).
Of particular interest are a group of fragmentary linear anomalies in the south-east corner of the field. These almost certainly relate to a rectilinear arrangement of ditches visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs of this location (NHER 50728) and thought to represent an area of settlement close to the former margin of Mousehold Heath. A number of the anomalies appear to represent small rectilinear enclosures, including several that extend to the south of a more extensive north-west to south-east aligned feature that corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Rackheath tithe map (S2). A number of linear anomalies identified elsewhere in the field also correspond with former field boundaries shown on this map. These include one running between TG 2880 1381 and TG 2902 1383 that is more sinuous than the boundary shown on the tithe map, suggesting it potentially represents a fossilised element of an earlier field system.
There was also clear evidence for remains associated with the World War Two airfield (NHER 8170), the most obvious being a series of short, parallel linear anomalies that correspond with two of the main runways. These anomalies are adjacent and perpendicular to the recorded positions of the runways, suggesting they potentially represent associated drainage features. Anomalies at the northern end of the field coincide with the route of one of the narrower taxiways that run between the ends of the runways. A discrete ferrous anomaly at TG 2914 1371 potentially relates to a circular emplacement visible on 1946 aerial photographs at this location but there was no trace of a second mapped at TG 2895 1361 (both recorded under NHER 8170).
There was no evidence for surviving remains associated with a number of scattered, fragmentary linear cropmarks that are also mapped in this field (part of a group of undated and post-medieval field boundaries and other remains recorded as NHER 50725).
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 November 2023.

March 2022. Desk-based Assessment.
Updated archaeological assessment of large proposed development.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 November 2023.