NHER 43772 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of undated and possible medieval to post medieval field boundaries and field system

June 2006. Norfolk NMP
Cropmarks of undated and possible medieval to post medieval field boundaries are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). These cropmarks are centred on TM 3424 9058. The most prominent cropmark within this group is an L-shaped field boundary ditch. This extends for 145m on a northeast to southwest alignment before turning to the northwest for a further 54m. This boundary is marked on the 1812 Ditchingham enclosure map (S3) and was still present on 1946 aerial photographs (S4). Its alignment does not conform to the surrounding post medieval field boundaries or that of the roads or watercourse to its north and east. It is possible that it is a survivor from an earlier field pattern. This is supported by a series of linear ditch cropmarks on southwest to northeast and northwest to southeast alignments further to the east. These cropmarks form an incomplete rectilinear field system on the same general alignment as the L-shaped field boundary. The most complete field visible within this group measures at least 62m long by 25m wide. The alignment of this field system does not match that of the surrounding field boundaries or roads. It has some similarity to that of an undated but possibly late prehistoric to Roman enclosure cropmark to its east (NHER 18905) but this may be entirely coincidental. The lack of alignment of these fields with Stone Street Roman road (NHER 10636) to the northeast is quite surprising. It is possible that the alignment of this field system was governed by drainage factors. It does have a similar alignment to a post medieval drainage pattern 670m to the southwest at TM 3370 9020. Although some elements of this field system survived through the post medieval period into the mid 20th century, it is likely that it has a medieval or early post medieval origin. Undated linear and curvilinear ditch cropmarks are present cutting across this group on different alignments.
J. Albone (NMP), 16 June 2006