NHER 27244 (Monument record) - Post medieval ditch earthworks

February 2005. Norfolk NMP.
A small area of post medieval parallel ditch earthworks, possibly representing a flood meadow or extremely basic water meadows, are visible on aerial photographs alongside the modern coastline at Sea Palling (S1 and 2). The site is centred on TG 4510 2540. The relationship between the mapped features and features marked on the Waxham Tithe map of 1840 (S3) would indicate the earthworks have gone out of use by at least 1840. These earthworks, visible during the late 1940’s and 1950’s (S1 and 2), now appear to have been plough levelled (S4).

The coastal, rather than riverside location, may indicate that these are not water meadows in the classic sense. Although other groups of earthworks interpreted as post medieval water meadows at Heacham also have a coastal situation (NHER 33387). The topography of the site is flat and therefore the channels would not have worked in the manner of a classic water meadow, rather they may have created an area of flood meadow. The earthworks channels are bordered by drains to the south and west, however the western drain does not appear to be aligned in the same direction of the earthworks and therefore may be a later recutting. Although the Waxham Tithe map of 1840 shows the drain running along the same course as present (S3), again suggesting that these features may relate to an earlier system.

A slight, flat-topped, central embankment runs across the central southern area of the channel for around 195m from TG 4517 2534 to TG 4499 2542. This appears to have narrow flanking drains to the north and south at points along its length. The parallel channels are all perpendicular to this slight embankment. These vary in width from 1m to 4m across. It is possible that the embankment is a later feature, which has been constructed over the top of the channels, although it may have been an original feature of the meadow, perhaps providing access across the wetter ground. To the north a major drainage channel cuts across the site. This embanked cut is marked on the 1840 Tithe map (S3). This embankment and drainage dyke continues long the coast to the east (NHER 27245).
(S1 to 4)
S. Massey (NMP), 14 February 2004.