NHER 66763 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks (and possibly low earthwork) of section of Roman road

May 2023. Aylsham and Brampton Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
The section of Roman road described below was previously recorded as part of NHER 36465 and 2796. The ‘butt end’ to the road referred to in NHER 36465 is not borne out by the AIM mapping, and may be a result of a geological mark coincidentally appearing to be a terminus to the roadside ditches.
A section of Roman road is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1-S8). It forms part of the route between Billingford and Brampton, recorded as part of NHER 2796. The road is primarily visible as two flanking ditches, spaced approximately 19m apart, but sections of bank and possible metalling are also visible, and on some sources the line of the road appears as a light or dark band.
A low, rather sinuous earthwork (mapped by extent) is visible on visualised lidar data (S9) and some aerial photographs (S1 for example) following the line of the cropmarks in some places, but diverging in others. This could also be a remnant of the former road, the discrepancy between the cropmarks and the earthwork perhaps reflecting a re-modelling of the route at some stage. The latter may also be indicated by the relationship of the road cropmarks with a ring ditch and two small square enclosures visible overlapping it (NHER 66759, 66761 and 66762). Alternatively, the earthwork could be a later (probably medieval to post-medieval) plough headland and/or furlong boundary established along the approximate line of the former road.
As well as the ring ditch and square enclosures, various other cropmarks are visible in the vicinity of the road. These include two overlapping rectilinear enclosures (NHER 66764) which appear to be aligned to the northern edge of the road and may well be contemporary with its use, as well as more disparate, undated cropmarks (NHER 36465).
See project report (S10) for more detailed discussion of these sites, and the relationship of the road to the Roman town and industrial suburb of Brampton (NHER 1006 and 1124) approximately 500m to the east.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 4 May 2023.