NHER 27197 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of World War One or Two trenches

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of possible World War I or Two practice trenches visible on OS aerial photographs from 1973 (S1). The features run from TG 0635 4118 to TG 0638 4119 and consist of a ditch, 1m thick, following a crenellation pattern for 28m. Flanking this, to the immediate south, is a 2m wide parchmark following the exact same pattern. The identification of this feature as trenches is somewhat tentative, as the cropmarks follow the tramlines in the crop. It is possible that this jagged line is caused by some disturbance of plough line. However, it is interesting to note that the field to the immediate north (NHER 13549) was the site of a World War One airfield and World War Two anti-aircraft battery. The crenellation pattern of the fieldworks would tend to imply that they are World War I in date, this is also suggested by the fact they are not visible on 1946 RAF aerial photographs (S2).
S. Massey (NMP), 15 January 2006.