NHER 43466 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The cropmarks of a possible dispersed field system of unknown but possible Iron Age to Roman date, Bradwell and Gorleston-on-Sea

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The multi-phase cropmarks of a fragmentary field system and ditched boundaries of predominantly Iron Age to Roman date are visible on aerial photographs on the border of the Bradwell and Gorleston-on-Sea (S1)-(S3). The site is centred on TG 5155 0364, although this point does not correspond to an archaeological feature on the ground. This dispersed spread of cropmarks covers an area approximately 1250m by 850m. Similar groups of field boundaries are recorded to the north (NHER 43447 and 43456) and to the west (NHER 43467).

A great many Bronze Age finds have been recovered from this general vicinity, see NHER 10556 and 28721, plus a single Roman find (NHER 16556), with the rest being predominantly medieval and post medieval. Despite the apparent paucity of finds of this date, it seems likely that the majority of the field boundaries visible are Iron Age to Roman in date, although it is possible that some are medieval.

The majority of the ditches across the site are roughly aligned northwest to southeast and southwest to northeast and are likely to be fragments of a regularly arranged field system. Although not all the cropmarks grouped under this site follow this orientation, such as the possible trackway feature centred on TG 5124 0373, 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.

April 2009. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed school extension.
An evaluation carried out at Peterhouse Middle School encountered one of the ditches recorded as part of this field system, but no dating evidence was recovered.
See report (S4) and NHER 52756 for further details.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 3 September 2009.

May 2009. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks at Peterhouse Middle School identifed several sections of the previously identified ditch, although unfortunately no finds were recovered.
See report (S5) and NHER 52756 for further details.
S. Howard (NLA), 6 August 2010.

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 (S6) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.