NHER 45157 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of post medieval road or trackway

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a post medieval date road or trackway are visible on aerial photographs running from the Lowestoft Road to the former Gorleston common (S1). The site is centred on TG 5203 0087. It is possible that this road or trackway linked with NHER 45153 and 45156 to the northwest and represents a former route across the common.

The possible road or track runs from TG 5184 0111 to TG 5219 0064 and is visible as multiple ditched linear features, which merge to form larger sunken areas in places. The appearance of these ditches suggests a braided trackway or route that has been re-cut over time. The whole of the area of the linear feature is also slightly raised and forms a low earthwork. It is therefore possible that the trackway was constructed on a prepared or raised surface.

At the southeastern end of the linear terminates at the line of the modern A12. To the east of this is the Lowestoft Road, which presumably marks the original route of the road. The cropmark trackway appears to meet and follow the alignment of this earlier road. To the north east of this cropmark linear is another short section of broad ditch aligned along the same direction (NHER 45156). It is probable that this forms an extension of the same trackway. Much further to the northwest this alignment is also followed by another cropmark trackway or road (NHER 45153), which continues on the opposite side of the Gorleston common and which is recorded on the 1797 Faden map (S2).

Some of the post medieval field boundaries in this area follow the alignment of this section of trackway, whilst others appear to relate to an earlier phase of the enclosure (NHER 45158).
S. Massey (NMP), 16 October 2006.

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 (S3) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.