NHER 12974 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a probable medieval to post medieval field system

1977.
Rectangular cropmarks, probably an old field, adjacent to right angled mark on parish boundary with Aylsham where it diverges from road.. Also 2 tracks to north, wavy track following parish boundary on west, and other markings in between.
Located E. Rose (NAU) 21 December 1977.

21 March 1978.
E. Rose (NAU) saw another pair of parallel lines on ground in green crop to south west of those on air photograph, but perhaps just a tractor mark coincidentally on same alignment.

June 2017. Aerial Imagery Interpretation.
Assessment of aerial imagery along proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms.
Various cropmarks were mapped in this area, described as representing a "Field system with associated trackways and enclosures" (AP Site 39). The majority of the cropmark recorded are now part of this group.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 December 2025.

October 2017-March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms.
The areas examined coincided with a number of the cropmarks in this group, the majority of which were associated with corresponding linear anomalies.
See NHERs 65909 and 65910 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 December 2025.

October 2020-June 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms.
This phase of work saw the investigation of a number of the cropmarks in this group, the majority of which were found to be associated with surviving sub-surface remains. These included a north-east to south-west aligned feature at TG 1714 2758; adjacent north-east to south-west aligned features at TG 1706 2760; north-west to south-east aligned features at TG 1684 2758 and TG 1677 2754; a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned feature at TG 1675 2751; an east-north-east to west-south-west aligned feature at TG 1667 2747; a north-east to south-west aligned feature at TG 1663 2737; a north-west to south-east aligned feature at TG 1662 2732 that was probably the continuation of a cropmark to the south-east and several adjacent north-east to south-west aligned features at TG 1662 2723 that were almost certainly associated with the three parallel cropmarks mapped to the east. One of the ditches in this final group was found to contain several medieval/post-medieval brick fragments – the only datable finds recovered from any of the ditches associated with cropmarks.
See NHERs 65909 and 65910 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 December 2025.

March 2022. Aylsham and Brampton Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
A series of fragmented linear ditch features (see above) most likely relating to a medieval to post medieval field system can be seen on aerial photographs (S1-S4). The features most likely relate to a series of field boundaries, trackways and possible enclosures. The features are most likely medieval to post medieval in date, however it’s possible that some of the features may be earlier in date. Cropmarks of post medieval boundaries recorded on the readily available historic maps (for example S5), have not been recorded as part of this project as they are recorded in good detail on the historic maps.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 31 March 2022.