NHER 38886 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post medieval field boundaries and enclosures

December 2004. Norfolk NMP.
An area of earthwork enclosures and field boundaries of probable post medieval date is visible along the coast at Cromer (S1and S2). These earthworks form several rectilinear enclosed areas, which may have acted as stock enclosures or paddocks on coastal grazing land. Some of the earthworks visible are marked as field boundaries on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map (1902-7, 25") (S3), these were not mapped as part of the NMP. Although a post medieval date is most likely, it is possible that these enclosures have earlier medieval origins.
The site is centred on TG 2092 4244. Centred on TG 2090 4243 is a series of incomplete rectilinear enclosures defined by ditches and in several instances an accompanying bank. These enclosures appear to have originally defined at least three conjoined rectilinear areas, approximately 25m by 20m. The western edge of these enclosures is set back from the field boundary to the east by 4m. This gap may have acted as a trackway or access to the coastal land beyond these enclosures. It seems likely that these were used as paddocks or stock enclosures. To the east, centred on TG 2094 4246, is another area of boundaries, which again in part join up with those depicted on the 2nd edition map (S4). These banked earthworks may have formed another rectangular enclosed area, measuring approximately 30m by 8m.
S. Massey (NMP), 22 December 2004.