NHER 26823 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark of medieval to post medieval field boundaries

April 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Group of five sets of large scale linear ditches visible on ADAS aerial photographs from 1970 (S1) and (S2), BKS photography from 1988 (S3) and Ordnance Survey verticals from 1991 (S4) and also RAF aerial photographs from 1955(S5). These are all roughly parallel and sweep in a slight S-shaped curve from the northeast to the west of the area, which is an overall distance of 1.8km. The stretches of boundary themselves vary in length from 160m to 920m, although the plan suggests that they were probably all continuous at one point. The soilmarks of these features are up to 13m wide and may have been spread by the plough. On the ADAS photography (S1) and (S2) these boundaries appear to be showing a lighter material within the centre of the linear. It is possible that this is chalky material that once constituted an associated bank or hedgeline and this material may have filled the ditches.
The boundaries join up to existing field boundaries and plantation boundaries, both in the modern landscape and on the 2nd ed map (6”, 1902-7) (S6). Centred on TF 6899 3846 are several shorter, perpendicular boundaries which divide these larger swathes up into smaller fields. These can be seen to continue towards Heacham Park at TF 6833 3844 on the 1955 RAF aerial photographs (S5). The field boundaries are likely to date the late medieval to post-medieval period, however, the gentle S-shape could recall the shape of medieval open fields. The 1623 map of Heacham manor shows these sweeping field boundaries as dividing various plots of land, some still in strips some have been engrossed into larger areas. These maps do indicate that this field system is a early post medieval development of an area of open furlongs.
S. Massey (NMP), 25 April 2002.