NHER 44808 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of probable medieval to post medieval field boundaries

March 2005. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of probable medieval to post medieval field boundaries are visible on aerial photographs within the arable land surrounding Hickling Hall (S1-S5). The site is centred on TG 4120 2435. Some of these cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 28818. This number now only refers to a rectilinear enclosure of possible Iron Age to Roman date. Other multiphase and undated cropmarks within this area of this site have been recorded under NHER 44817.

A group of fragmentary and interrupted linear ditches are visible surrounding Hickling Hall, in particular in-between the Hall and Whinmere Plantation to the west. The majority of these appear to be broadly aligned along or are perpendicular to the remaining post medieval and modern land divisions. It is possible that these boundaries, which pre-date those on the 1842 Hickling Tithe map (S6), are remnants of the medieval and earlier post medieval field boundaries. It is possible that those immediately surrounding that Hall, which was built in the early eighteenth century (NHER 43070), were removed as part of the associated landscaping and redesign.

The field boundaries to the immediate north of the High Hill were previously recorded under NHER 28818. This includes boundaries described as a ‘playing card corner’ enclosure (S4-S5), possibly suggesting that it is Roman in date. However these ditches follow the same alignment as the post medieval field layout and although no such boundary has been identified on the available historic maps, it is probable that this ‘enclosure’ is actually a medieval to post medieval field division. Several additional linears are visible within this enclosed area and again these are broadly aligned the same as the post medieval fields and road to the south.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 March 2005.

May 2020. National Mapping Programme (NMP) Data Clean-Up.
The Monument Polygon defining the site has been expanded to include two additional ditches (at TG 4114 2460). These had been mapped in 2005 but not included within the Monument Polygon, presumably due to an oversight. They were visible on (S4), presumably as cropmarks.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council, Historic Environment Service), 4 May 2020.