NHER 29472 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible Bronze Age barrow cemetery, on Linger Hill

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Summary

Aerial photographs show the cropmarks of at least two ring ditches at this location. This is probably the site of the tumulus recorded in 19th century (see NHER 9030) of Bronze Age date, and may represent a barrow cemetery. Its proximity to the World War Two searchlight battery (NHER 29464) however, suggests it must be viewed with a hint of caution.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TL99SE
Civil Parish SHROPHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Map

15 June 1989. NAU aerial photography.
Cropmark, just south of searchlight station (NHER 29464), of a ring ditch. Very probably the site of the tumulus recorded in 19th century (see NHER 9030).
E. Rose (NLA) 18 February 1993.

October 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The centre of the site has been amended from TL 9729 9186 to TL 9724 9191 as a result of the NMP mapping.
Cropmarks of two possible Bronze Age circular barrows are in fact visible on the aerial photographs (S1-S2).
The largest, which is centred on TL 9725 9194 and measures 15m in internal diameter, 17m externally, is situated just to the south of the searchlight battery NHER 29464. On the earliest available photographs (S1), it appears that fragments of a second, concentric inner ditch may be visible, but this has been mapped with extreme caution.
The smaller ring ditch is only visible on the later photographs (S2), but can be seen as a raised circle in the crop against a dark background caused by the underlying geology. It is centred on TL 9723 9189 and measures 9m in internal diameter, 10.5m externally. The precise location of these ring ditches should be approached with caution as the photographs on which they were most visible (S2) had almost no reliable control points, and therefore the rectification of the photographs was potentially poor.
It should be noted that the underlying geology in the area is causing cropmarks which can difficult to distinguish from archaeological marks, therefore it may be possible that there are more ring ditches in the area, potentially forming a barrow cemetery.
Its proximity to the World War Two searchlight battery (NHER 29464) however, suggests that it must be viewed with a hint of caution.
E. Ford (NMP), 18 October 2012.

February 2026. HER Enhancement: Forestry Commission Project K.
The cropmarks of the two potential Bronze Age ring ditches (see above) are visible on aerial photographs from 2025.
J. Powell (Norfolk County Council Environment Service), 19 February 2026

  • <S1> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1634 2372-3 09-JUL-1946 (NMR).
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D. NLA. 1989. NHER TL9791 F-K (NLA 223/DHN7-11) 15-JUN-1989.
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Bluesky International Ltd and Getmapping Plc. unknown. Aerial Photography for Great Britain (APGB) Orthophotographs. https://www.apgb.co.uk. Bluesky International Ltd APGB Imagery TL9791 12-MAY-2025.

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Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Feb 19 2026 12:10PM

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