NHER 66875 (Monument record) - Post-medieval or earlier routeway and field boundaries

November 2010. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area to north-east of Norwich.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 May 2023.

September 2012-March 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Field 1).
This survey identified a number of potentially archaeologically-significant linear responses. These include a vague, discontinuous, north-north-west to south-south-east aligned anomaly that appears to coincide with a bank visible on aerial photographs of this location (part of a group of features recorded as NHER 53497). This features corresponds with the former line of the Catton/Spixworth parish boundary and probably also with a former lane shown on Faden’s map of 1797 (S2), which converged with Spixworth Road at its junction with White Woman Lane. Two roughly north-to-south aligned linear anomalies both also coincide with previously recorded cropmark features (also noted under NHER 53497). These include a fairly extensive anomaly at the eastern end of the site that coincides with a former field boundary depicted on the Catton tithe map of 1843 (S3). This feature also coincides with the recorded position of a narrow, north-to-south aligned band of flint, brick and pottery that was ploughed up at some time prior to 1983 (NHER 19016). It is though noted that these remains coincided “…at south end with line of parish boundary”, which suggests that actually relate to the line of the former road to the west. Another roughly north-to-south aligned linear towards the western end of the site is likely to represent another ditch associated with another former field boundary.
Various other linear anomalies are all probably the result of recent agricultural activity.
Although numerous discrete areas of magnetic enhancement were also recorded these are all thought to have been caused by changes in the underlying natural geology. Scattered isolated dipolar anomalies and areas of magnetic disturbance around the field margins probably represent ferrous material (most likely modern debris).
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 May 2023.