NHER 39055 (Monument record) - Post medieval road and ditch

December 2004. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of a post medieval road and associated field boundary ditch are visible on aerial photographs (S1-2). These cropmarks are centred on TG 3039 3352 and were previously recorded as part of NHER 12818. An angled section of ditch defined road is visible for a total distance of 185m. The road diverges from the modern course of Hall Lane in the north at TG 3037 3365 and heads in a southerly direction. After approximately 100m it turns sharply to the southwest crossing a modern field boundary and track before continuing to TG 3036 3348. Its course beyond this point is not visible as cropmarks. Where the road crosses the field boundary and track it is clearly defined by double ditches on each side. Further to the north a double ditch is only visible on the eastern side of the road. However, the outer of these ditches appears to continue southwards, diverging from the road when it turns to the southwest at TG 3040 3354. Another ditch is present on a parallel north to south alignment further to the south. A northwest to southeast aligned ditch, probably a field boundary, appears to respect the southwestern end of the road at TG 3036 3348. However, the north to south ditches cross this field boundary indicating that several phases of activity are represented by this group of cropmarks.
It has been suggested that Hall Lane follows the line of a Roman road (NHER 41037). The cropmarks recorded here presumably represent an earlier route than the modern straight course of the road. This appears to be supported by Faden's 1797 map (S3), which shows a marked zig-zag in the course of the Hall Lane at this point, suggesting the cropmarks are of 18th century date at least. Bryant's map of 1826 (S4) depicts the road on its present straight course, but does show a rectangular area of park or garden to the east of the road opposite the hall. It is possible that the road had originally been straight but had been diverted further away from the hall around the park or garden when this was laid out. However, why the road should later have reverted to a straight route, through the remaining park or garden, is not clear. Alternatively, the cropmarks may represent the original course of the road, which was later straightened to its present course. If this is the case, it seems unlikely that Hall Lane is a Roman road.
(S1-4)
J. Albone (NMP), 8 December 2004