NHER 43447 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The cropmarks of a dispersed field system and ditched features of unknown definite date, Bradwell and Gorleston on Sea

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The multi-phase cropmarks of a fragmentary field system, ditched features and trackways of unknown definite date are visible on aerial photographs on the border of the Bradwell and Great Yarmouth parishes (S1)-(S5). Although all of these features are essentially of unknown date, it seems likely that many of them are predominantly Iron Age to Roman in date. Cropmarks following a noticeable different alignment within this area have been recorded under NHER 43461. These are also of unknown definite date, but again an Iron Age to Roman date would be plausible. Roman finds have been found within the general area of both sets of cropmarks (NHER 17854, 20036). The site is centred on TG 5132 0493 and is approximately 1200m by 800m.

The cropmarks are all quite fragmentary, although many of them follow the same broad alignment northwest to southeast and southwest to northeast. Given this shared alignment across a dispersed site, then it is possible that these ditches are components of a field system or similar arrangement of ditches and trackways. The main concentration of ditches is centred on TG 5141 0481. This cluster, although fragmentary, may indicate an area of fields or enclosure that are more subdivided, possibly representing stock enclosures and paddocks. Several of the enclosing boundaries are double ditched and therefore are likely to represent trackways through the fields. Another smaller cluster of ditches and trackways is centred on TG 5156 0508. As with the other location some suggestion of subdivision of fields is visible.

Not all the cropmarks grouped under this site follow the northwest to southeast/southwest to northeast orientation and are therefore likely to represent different phases on the site. Although the features are too fragmentary for any relative phasing to be attempted.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 March 2006.

November 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Survey of proposed development area north of Beccles Road.
Although the north-north-west to south-south-east aligned cropmark at TG 5170 0482 fell within the area surveyed no corresponding anomaly were observed. This part of the site was however almost completely obscured by extensive magnetic disturbance likely to represent rubble and other debris distributed during the demolition of several school buildings.
See NHER 62792 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 June 2018.

February-May 2018. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development area north of Beccles Road.
Although one of the trenches coincided with the south-south-east aligned cropmark at TG 5170 0482 no surviving sub-surface feature was observed.
See NHER 62792 and report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 June 2018.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S7) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.