NHER 38235 (Monument record) - Medieval to post medieval fields and features

1936. Aerofilms air photographs.
Siltland edge between Puny Drain and River Nar.
Pattern of linear features, recorded on NCM map by R. R. Clarke (NCM). Features look very similar to medieval strip fields at Elm, Cambs. Original photographs not seen.
A. Gregory (NAU), 4 February 1980.

However the south end of the area of markings visible on Ordnance Survey air photograph 1988 is very different from how Clarke has drawn it on the map, yet similar enough to show they are the same markings. Perhaps Clarke's photograph was not clear. Copy of Ordnance Survey print in file for NHER 15867.
B. Cushion and E. Rose (NLA), June 1994.

June 2003. NMP.
A series of fields, formed by ditches and what appear to be former saltmarsh or fen channels (S1). Part of this site was formerly within NHER 15867 and the brick kiln site NHER 17304 also lies within this site boundary. The fields are largely aligned with their long axis in an east to west direction, and most of them contain ridge and furrow type earthworks. These features are typically relatively narrow and straight, and are probably Post-medieval in date, operating more as lazybeds rather then true ridge and furrow. These features are typical of newly reclaimed land on the saltmarsh and fen edge in this area. The larger linear ditches within the area divide the fields onto narrower strips, although they may also have a drainage purpose.
There are a minimum of 34 circular stack stands within this area (S1 and S4), and numerous indistinct but potential features that have not been mapped. The majority of them are formed by a raised circular bank, with a narrow ditch on the outside and a sunken centre, but there are many variables on the theme. Some appear as a raised circular platform, rather than a ring, and some appear as just ring ditches. They are located both in the corners of the fields and seemingly at random within the middle of the fields. The features have a maximum diameter ranging from 6.60 to 18.50m, although the average diameter is approximately 12m. There are also a series of rectangular enclosures attached to the corners and sides of the fields. One rectangular enclosure can be seen still utilised for stack storage in 1948 (S1) at TF 6317 1812, and it is presumed that the rectangular enclosures supersede the circular bases. The date of the circular features is the subject of some conjecture.
Sylvester suggested a Roman period date for some of these features (S3) although the features within this site are almost certainly later, probably dating from the Late medieval and Post-medieval periods. It is entirely possible that the practice of building circular stack stands is a long-standing tradition that went relatively unchanged for many hundreds of years, and the fenland examples may date from the Roman period right through to the Post-medieval.
This appears to be the area where brick kilns are marked on Bryant’s Map in 1826 (S2), recorded under NHER 17304, although there is no discernible trace of structures that resemble brick kilns within this area on the images consulted. It is presumed that most of these features, the stack stands and lazybedding predate Bryant’s map, and so it seems unlikely that the kilns were actually positioned here, possibly to the immediate east or north.
M. Brennand (NMP), 12 June 2003.