NHER 43467 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The cropmarks of a possible field system of unknown, but possibly Iron Age to Roman date, Bradwell

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a fragmentary field system and ditched boundaries, possibly of Iron Age to Roman date, are visible on aerial photographs of Bradwell (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 5065 0306 and measures approximately 700m by 450m. These cropmarks appear to be overlain by a series of field boundaries and trackways (NHER 43457), which are thought to date to the late medieval to post medieval periods. Another group of undated ditches and field boundaries were also recorded within this area, see NHER 43476 for details.

The main component of the site consists of series of fragmentary and intermittent linears roughly aligned SW-NE. Centred on TG 5074 0327 is an area of single and double ditched linear features running perpendicular to this general alignment. It seems likely that these cropmarks define a series of fields, possibly with trackways running alongside. Similar groups of field boundaries are recorded to the north (NHER 43447, 43456) and to the east (NHER 43466).
S. Massey (NMP), 29 March 2006.

January 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of fields to north and south of Clay Lane and Gorleston Lane.
Although the majority of the cropmarks in this group fell within the area examined, the survey recorded no clear evidence for corresponding sub-surface remains. It is therefore possible that any associated remains have been significantly truncated by ploughing since the cropmarks were photographed.
See report (S5) and NHERs 62727 and 62729 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 January 2019.

July 2014. Trial Trenching.
Excavation of several trenches in field to south of Clay Lane, on route of proposed A12-A143 link road (Trenches 2-10 and 11A).
Although at least two of these trenches coincided with cropmark featrures in this group no corresponding subsurface remains were identified.
See report (S6) and NHER 62727 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 January 2019.

August-October 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development areas adjacent to Clay Lane.
Although three of the trenches opened to the south of Clay Lane coincided with cropmarks in this group no corresponding sub-surface remains were identified.
The single trench excavated to the north of Clay Lane also revealed no archaeologically significant features, despite coinciding with the north-east to south-west aligned cropmark recorded at TG 5056 0302 [1].
See report (S9) and NHERs 62727 and 62729 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 January 2019.

March 2018. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site to south of Meadowland Drive.
Although several of the trenches coincided with cropmarks in this group none were found to have associated sub-surface features. It is suggested that in several cases the cropmarks may actually correspond with changes in the underlying natural geology.
See report (S8) and NHER 62740 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 January 2019.

January 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development area to north of Clay Lane (Wheatcroft Farm, Phase 3).
Although the trenches excavated at this site coincided with at least seven of the cropmarks in this group no corresponding sub-surface features were identified.
See report (S9) and NHER 62729 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 September 2019.

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 (S10) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.