NHER 42033 (Monument record) - Post medieval drainage ditches

A NUMBER OF THESE FEATURES WERE ORIGINALLY RECORDED UNDER NHER 13293. THIS SITE HAS SINCE BEEN SPLIT INTO ITS CONSTITUENT PARTS.

September 2005. Norfolk NMP.
A series of post medieval drainage channels and ditches are visible on aerial photographs, to the north of Lambridge Covert, Sea Palling (S1 to S4). The site is centred on TG 4331 2619. This wood has been recorded as the location for one of the earliest duck decoys in the country, established in the reign of James I (early Seventeenth century); see NHER 13293 for discussion of this site. Within the centre of this group of drainage and boundary features are three possible ring ditches (NHER 27710). It is possible that these are the remains of Bronze Age barrows; however an alternative interpretation as post medieval stack stands has also been put forward. At least some of these channels are marked on the Waxham Enclosure map (S5). This map is undated, but must have been surveyed between 1820 and 1840, as the Waxham New Cut is marked and this navigable channel was dug in the 1820s (NHER 35366), and before the 1840, as this is the date of Waxham Tithe map.

Running from TG 4334 2604 to TG 4320 2613 are two closely set parallel ditches, which appear to line up with an existing field boundary to the east of the site. The northern ditch or channel is significantly more substantial than the southern, being up to 2m wide. To the west, running from TG 4321 2618 to TG 4316 2606, is another broad linear feature, which also has a double ditched component to its northern extent. This has the appearance of a drainage channel and enters the Lambridge Wood to the south. It is possible that this channel fed into the possible decoy at this location, although see NHER 13293 for possible alternative locations for this site. The line of this drain is partially followed by a much more intermittent ditch to the west. Both of these channels mirror the line of the Black Wall drain and trackway to the west. There are two further drains or boundary ditches parallel to this main drain to the east of the site.

The Black Wall drain runs down to the Waxham New Cut to the south (NHER 35366). This navigable channel was dug in the 1820’s and ran from the northern end of Horsey Mere to Lound Bridge to the north. It is possible that the Black Wall drain also relates to this phase of reorganisation of the landscape. However the drain also mirrors the line of a set of boundaries and drains (NHER 42038) which appear to be in part marked on the 1797 Faden map (S6) and are therefore earlier than the digging of the Waxham New Cut.
S. Massey (NMP), 30 September 2005.