NHER 30315 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of medieval to post-medieval enclosures and associated linear features

11 July 1989. NAU aerial photography.
Rectilinear cropmarks visible on (S1), possibly an enclosure.
D. Edwards (NAU).

Nothing shown on 1906 25in Ordnance Survey.
E. Rose (NLA).

18 July 1996. NLA aerial photography.
Additional linear cropmarks visible on (S2), but antiquity is dubious.
M. Brennand (NLA), 3 December 2001.

2007. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Phase 1).
The three trenches excavated identified at least two ditches that appeared to correspond with the previously identified cropmarks. These ditches produced medieval pottery, as did a number of pits that lay nearby.
See report (S3) and NHER 63375 for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2019. Amended 20 June 2019.

October 2009. Norfolk NMP.
Two rectilinear enclosures and associated linear features are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2) and (S4)-(S6) on land to the west of Furze Lane, Taverham, centred on TG 1663 1578. The enclosures themselves are oriented north northeast-south southwest, and appear to be parallel with the field edge to the east. It is only possible to define three sides of each enclosure, perhaps because their eastern sides have been truncated as the road has widened, or perhaps because the road itself had always formed the eastern boundary of the enclosures.
The northern enclosure measures 61m by at least 43m internally, and is bounded by a ditch up to 2m in width. It is possible that internal divisions may be visible within the enclosure, such as the ditch visible between TG 1661 1581 and TG 1664 1581. The southern enclosure measures 40m by at least 47m internally, and also appears to exhibit an internal division, or possible re-cut of its western boundary from TG 1660 1577 to TG 1660 1573.
The enclosures appear to correspond with an unnamed farm marked on Faden’s 1797 Map of Norfolk (S7), which is not depicted on Bryant’s Map of 1826 (S8), or the Taverham Tithe Map of 1845 (S9), suggesting they were part of a medieval to post medieval farm which was no longer in use by the early 19th century.
These cropmarks have been investigated as part of the trial trenching assessment of the Norwich Northern Distributor Route (S3), and were found to date to the to the high medieval period, probably representing relatively low status agricultural activity.
Linear ditches on the same alignment as the enclosures, which may relate to field boundary ditches, as they appear to correspond with the modern field boundary in the field to the west, are visible for up to 200m from TG 1645 1587 to TG 1665 1583, and 30m to the north, from TG 1647 1589 to TG 1666 1586.
A possible Iron Age-Roman trackway or field boundary (NHER 52382) and fragmentary linear features (NHER 52383) are also visible in this area.
E. Bales (NMP), October 2009.

April-August 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Field T7).
As during the earlier trial trenching the cropmarks thought to represent medieval or later enclosures were virtually all found to be associated with surviving sub-surface remains, as were many of the other linear cropmarks mapped in the surrounding parts of the field. Finds were however extremely scarce and it was therefore not possible to convincingly date any of the ditches investigated.
See report (S10) and NHER 63375 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2019.

January-September 2016. Excavation.
Excavation of site on route of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Area 1 West).
A relatively large area was stripped, fully exposing these enclosures and substantial lengths of the associated boundary ditches to the north.
As suggested by the cropmark evidence, both of the main enclosures were three-sided, with their eastern sides seemingly formed by Furze Lane itself. The northern enclosure was sub-divided by an east-to-west aligned ditch and additional, smaller rectangular areas were defined by ditches running parallel to the western sides of both enclosures. The northern side of the northern enclosure was formed by a much more extensive ditch that extended westwards from Furze Lane and continued beyond the limits of the excavation. There was a sizable gap between this ditch and a pair of parallel and presumably contemporary ditches to the north. A perpendicular ditch running between these feature would appear to have demarcated another enclosure of some kind adjacent to Furze Lane. Potentially contemporary discrete features identified within the main enclosures included a cluster of post-holes thought to represent some form of structure, a deep feature interpreted as a well, and at least one pit.
The pottery recovered was almost exclusively of medieval date, with the lack of late medieval wares suggesting that activity had probably ceased (or at least significantly declined) by the mid to late 14th century.
See NHER 63375 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2019.