NHER 43476 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The cropmarks of field boundaries 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-S2). The site is centred on TG 5066 0315. Another group of undated ditches and field boundaries were also recorded within this area (NHER 43467) and these were also tentatively dated to the Iron Age and Roman periods. These two groups of cropmarks were recorded separately as they had slightly different alignments and therefore probably represent different phases of field boundaries. Both of these sets of 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.

An intermittent linear ditch is visible in three sections running for almost 400m from TG 5066 0323 to TG 5090 0292 (S1). This is likely to be a field or similar land division. To the northwest of this is a series of perpendicular ditches, centred on TG 5047 0317. These consist of a roughly T-shaped arrangement of parallel ditches, possibly defining wide trackways around fields. The cropmarks are too fragmentary for any further interpretation and no relatively phasing can accurately be suggested between this site and NHER 43467.
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 features have been significantly truncated by ploughing since the cropmarks were photographed.
See report (S3) and NHER 62729 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).
The trenches excavated coincided with two of the cropmarks in this group.
A ditch identified at TG 5069 0318 was potentially related to the north-north-west to south-south-east aligned cropmark mapped at this location (although this wasn't certain as their alignements were not identical).
A trench excavated across a north-east to south-west aligned cropmark at TG 5056 0301 revealed no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains. It was recorded that this part of the site was much disturbed by wheel ruts and had been at least partially truncated.
See report (S4) 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 (S5) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.

November 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site adjacent to Chaplin Road.
One of the excavated trenches coincided with the north-west to south-east aligned linear cropmark recorded at TG50820301. There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains.
See report (S6) and NHER 62729 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 January 2024.