NHER 12818 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Medieval and post medieval features

SOME CROPMARKS NOW RECORDED UNDER SEPARATE NHER NUMBERS - SEE BELOW

Cropmark of rectangular enclosure cut by railway (now infilled) with ring ditch to east and double-causewayed ring ditch with distinct "knobbed" entrances to west.
Located E. Rose, 14 September 1977.

NAU air photography.
Cropmark of rectangular enclosure cut by railway (cutting now infilled) with two adjacent ring ditches; one to south-east (at 3069 3347) and another to the north (at 3068 3364) and double causewayed ring ditch (with possible central pit or even cross trees trench) at 3055 3364, together with adjacent linear and curvilinear cropmarks.
See overlays for NHER record maps at 1:2500 and 6 inch scale, compiled by D.Edwards.
Comp. D.Edwards 12 March 1980.

E. Rose is not convinced as to the reality of the northern of the first two ring ditches. The linear marks are mostly old field boundaries still shown on 6 inch OS.

Cropmarks of curvilinear ditches of a trackway leading up to the Old Hall (6917) and adjacent to cropmark site.
Comp. D. Edwards 12 March 1980.

December 2004. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of undated ditches, medieval to post medieval field boundaries and extraction pits are visible on aerial photographs (S1-3). The central grid reference for these cropmarks has been adjusted from TG 3060 3350 to TG 3060 3360.

Some cropmarks previously recorded under this number have been separated out and recorded individually. These are as follows; ring ditch (NHER 39048), post mill (NHER 39049), curvilinear ditch (NHER 39050), possible long barrow (NHER 39052), trackway (NHER 39053), rectangular enclosure (NHER 39054).

The remaining cropmarks include ditches belonging to two field systems as well as unrelated ditches of unknown date. The latest field system includes boundaries that survive on the 1840 tithe map of Knapton (S4). It is of post medieval date and probably mainly dates from the enclosure of the parish in the early 19th century. Ditches of this period include one at TG 3057 3374, which was replaced by a parallel field boundary to its east by the time of the first edition 6 inch Ordnance Survey map in the late 19th century (S5). A field boundary partially visible as a straight ditch cropmark at TG 3062 3364 and continuing as the eastern end of a cropmark ditch to TG 3078 3362 was present on the tithe map. To the east of the former railway line this field boundary still survives. The eastern end of this cropmark ditch also seems to have formed part of an earlier field system. The cropmark extends west from TG 3062 3364 for 136m to TG 3064 3361. This point forms the northwest corner of two small enclosures at the junction of four field boundary ditches. These extend in a north to south and west to east coaxial pattern. Ditches forming part of this pattern extend for 516m along a north to south axis between TG 3058 3390 and TG 3067 3339. The fields defined by these ditches are large in size, with those to the west of the main north to south axis measuring a possible 380m across to Hall Lane and approximately 140m north to south. To the east of the main axis other ditches, apparently contemporary with this field system, are present on a slightly different alignment. A trapezoidal field defined by one of these ditches and located at TG 3066 3369 measures 130m north to south and between 48m and 82m west to east. The dimensions of the other fields and their eastern extent, which is truncated by the railway line, is not clear. It is possible that this field system is of early post medieval or medieval date. It partly corresponds to ditches associated with a post medieval diverted course of Hall Lane (NHER 39055) but does not relate to other cropmarks recorded in this area (NHER 39053, 39054, 39056).

Other ditches, which cannot be related to the field systems, are also present within this group of cropmarks. These include roughly southwest to northeast aligned ditches at TG 3057 3348, TG 3064 3349 and TG 3058 3377. The date of these ditches is unknown.

Large pits, presumably for sand or gravel extraction, are present at three places within this group of cropmarks. Pits around TG 3042 3370 cut earlier enclosures (NHER 39056). The largest of these, in the northeast of the group appears to be respected by a ditch forming part of the medieval to post medieval field system. It is probable that these pits are of contemporary date and may relate to road maintenance. Three pits located around TG 3075 3338 are probably of a similar date but could relate to the construction of the adjacent railway line (NHER 13585). An isolated pit, of unknown date, is located at TG 3030 3339.
(S1-5)
J. Albone (NMP), 8 December 2004