NHER 16015 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of undated field systems, ditches, trackways, pits and possible grubenhauser

30 July 1977. NAU aerial photography.
Cropmarks of recently removed field boundaries and other miscellaneous linear features, including those of a trackway.
See overlay at 6in scale (S1) for NHER Record Maps, compiled March 1980.
D. Edwards (NAU), 25 March 1980.

Difficult to tell how much of this is artificial; note also proximity of World War Two defensive station.
E. Rose (NAU).

28 June 1996. NLA aerial photography. NGR amended from TG 3890 3030.
Cropmarks of linears and field system can be seen to continue to the north.
A parched linear is also visible running southeast from a track still in use. The linear may be where vehicles have cut across the field, possibly dating to military activity in the close proximity. Although it may be an earlier road or track.
S. Massey (NLA), 9 October 2001.

September 2004. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of Iron Age to Roman, Saxon, medieval and post medieval enclosures, field systems, trackways and pits or possible grubenhauser are visible on aerial photographs ((S2) to (S9)). The road previously recorded under this number has been moved to NHER 38773. These cropmarks are centred around TG 3880 3040. Ditches and trackways relating to a north to south and west to east aligned coaxial field system are present across the whole of this area. Two areas of denser cropmarks are present in the western part of the group. The first of these is centred around TG 3849 3047 where several adjoining rectilinear enclosures are located. These lie to the south of a west to east ditch that extends intermittently for 155m between TG 3842 3040 and TG 3857 3039. A continuation of this ditch 120m further east, extends for a further 70m before meeting a north to south trackway. A further section of this trackway is present 90m to the south. A second areas of incomplete enclosures is present further to the north around TG 3852 3056. These also appear to be arranged along a west to east ditch which extends intermittently from TG 3840 3056 to TG 3874 3054. Elements of this field system continue to the east and include positive cropmarks representing field boundary banks around TG 3886 3052. Overlapping features, such as the ditches and banks at TG 3882 3052, suggest that more than phase of activity is represented by these cropmarks. It is possible that parts of two field systems of different dates are represented. Pottery and coins of Roman date have been found in this area (NHER 32028, 34332 and 31461) and it is possible that the field system represented by the cropmarks in the western part of the group could also be of Iron Age to Roman date. Ditches belonging to these field systems appear to be crossed by cropmarks of two medieval to post medieval roads (NHER 38772 and 38773). The origin of these roads is not known and it is possible that the field systems are of an earlier medieval to post medieval date. Several sub rectangular pits are present in the eastern part of this field system. These measure between 2 to 2.5m by 4 to 6m in size. It is possible that these could represent early to Middle Saxon grubenhauser, but they may be extractive pits of unknown date. If these features are of Saxon date, it is possible that some of the ditches recorded in this area are also of this date. Two parallel linear pits are located at TG 3891 3038. These features measure 17m by 3m and are of uncertain date and function. The eastern part of this group of cropmarks has already been lost to coastal erosion.
J. Albone (NMP), 3 September 2004.

October 2017-March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms.
This survey identified linear anomalies that corresponded with a number of cropmarks in this group, including the north-to-south at east-to-west aligned features recorded in the vicinity of TG 3874 3050. Similarly-aligned cropmarks in the vicinity of TG 3852 3057 were shown to be elements of a fairly well-defined square enclosure with an east-to-west aligned central partition.
See NHER 65683 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2025.

October 2020-June 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms.
One of five trenches excavated at this location revealed an undated north-east to south-west aligned ditch at TG 3890 3029 that was potentially related to the group of similarly-aligned, fragmentary cropmarks recorded at this location.
As it fell outside the scheme's footprint the square enclosure identified by the preceding geophysical survey at TG 3852 3057 was not subject to further investigation.
See NHER 65683 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2025.