NHER 68446 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Potentially Roman, medieval to post-medieval and undated remains

August 2024. Aerial Photograph Interpretation.
Reported by member of the public [1]:
Linear cropmarks likely to represent at least three distinct phases of past activity are visible on recent aerial imagery (S1), as well as aerial imagery from 2006 (S2).
Potentially one of the earliest features is a slightly sinuous north-east to south-west aligned double-ditched trackway that can be traced between TG 2632 2660 and TG 2599 2614. Its line can't be confidently identified within the field to the south due to the presence of extensive cropmarks of likely natural, geological origin. There is though a hint on (S2) that it may have turned to continue further south on a north-west to south-east alignment. A north-east to south-west aligned ditch running parallel to the main section of the trackway is intermittently visible between TG 2645 2663 and TG 2615 2623 and likely represents a contemporary boundary. A number of perpendicular ditches extending to both sides of this boundary indicate the presence of a series of small fields or enclosures. At its northern end the trackway appears to terminate adjacent to one of these north-west to south-east aligned boundaries, suggesting it may have opened out into a much larger parcel of land - the eastern side of which was potentially formed by the continuation of the parallel north-east to south-east aligned boundary.
The above remains intersect and presumably predate a group of north-to-south and east-to-west aligned linear features visible in the vicinity of TG 2627 2640. These appear to represent boundaries defining two adjacent fields or enclosures, with the position and orientation of these remains in relation to the modern field system making a medieval to post-medieval date likely. Potentially of a similar age is an east-to-west aligned linear arrangement of adjoining small square enclosures at TG 2612 2644. At least three of these small enclosures can be seen on both (S1) and (S2), which are all c.10m wide. Most likely stock enclosures of some kind, their position suggests that they were potentially arranged along an east-to-west boundary extending from the similarly-aligned enclosures visible to the east.
Several north-to-south aligned linear cropmarks represent a more recent group of ditches, with all three corresponding with former field boundaries depicted on the Swanton Abbott tithe map of 1839 (S3).
Notable features of uncertain date include a fairly broad north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch visible on (S1) between TG 2613 2661 and c. TG 2610 2656. This has a distinct possible entrance gap at TG 2611 2657 within which a much narrower linear feature can be seen. A similarly-narrow, slightly sinuous ditch extending to the east of the more substantial ditch was presumably a contemporary feature.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 August 2024.