NHER 17141 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible hollow way and banks

22 March 1972. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photography. Photograph reference 72 034 174. Scale 1:7000.
Soilmarks.
Soilmarks of banks flanking hollow ways.
Possible ?green delineated by this road.
Some overlying confusion caused by modern drainage but principal features clearly discernible.
See (S1).
D. Edwards (NAU), 31 March 1981.

The central grid reference for this site has been altered from TM 1118 9617 to TM 1112 9617.

March 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The former earthworks and soilmarks of a triangular arrangement of hollow ways flanked by banks are visible on aerial photographs (S2-S7) to the south of Burrel’s Farm. The site is centred on TM 1112 9617, although the main focus of the archaeological features is TM1112 9617. Comparision of these features with Faden's map of 1797 (S8) suggests that the western route may have acted as a common edge boundary for Wattlefield Common while the eastern, more substantial hollow way, could feasibly represent an earlier route of the road that runs north across the common. A continuation of the boundary and trackway has been recorded to the north, see NHER 54673 for details.
It must be noted that the remainder of earthworks visible in 1946 and 1964 (S2-S3) are much narrower than the soilmarks on later aerial photographs suggest. Although this apparent greater width may be due to the spreading of material through ploughing and harrowing, the fact that the lines of banks and ditches visible in 1972 (S1) are so clear and smooth, and not jagged as might be expected with plough spread material, then it is potentially more likely that the narrower ditches visible on the earlier aerial photographs represent significantly reduced and partially infilled remains of previously more substantial features.
S. Horlock (NMP), 07 March 2012.