NHER 45175 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of enclosures and fragmentary field boundaries of possible late prehistoric to Roman date

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of enclosures, trackways and fragmentary field boundaries of possible late prehistoric to Roman date are visible on aerial photographs covering a large area in-between the Beccles Road and Browston Lane to the northwest of Browston Hall (S1-S4). Similarly orientated and arranged enclosures and fields are also located to the north of the Beccles Road also and these have been recorded under NHER 45215. This site extends as far south as Cherry Lane. Cropmarks following a similar alignment to the south have been recorded under NHER 45229, in fact a number of these features recorded within this site can be seen to continue to the south of the Lane. The cropmarks have been split into two areas for recording purposes due to the size of the site and dispersed nature of the cropmarks. These cropmarks are also located within an extremely complex area of multi-phase cropmarks, many of which are undated and recorded under NHER 45261. The site is centred on TG 49607 0234.

The arrangement and alignment of these ditches and field boundaries is similar to those recorded under NHER 45215, to the north, and 45229, to the south, which have also both been interpreted as being late prehistoric to Roman in date. A major land boundary or road appears to cut across these fields and enclosures and this has been interpreted possibly being Roman in origin, although this is not certain and it may be medieval to post medieval in date, see NHER 43591 for discussion. The only finds in this area that pre-date the medieval period are a number of prehistoric flint flakes (NHER 24887). A round barrow (NHER 13432) and ring ditch (NHER 45207) are located within the northern area of the site. Ditches associated with this field system appear to either overlie or are overlain by the ring ditch. It seems likely that the ring ditch is Bronze Age and relates to an earlier phase of activity than the field boundaries.

At TG 4974 0200 is a possible enclosure, approximately 30m by 25m, with a double ditched boundary or trackway leading towards it (S2). This trackway has a number of perpendicular boundaries running up to it, which are presumably field boundaries. Another possible enclosure is located to the north at TG 4967 0241 (S1). This is rectilinear or polygonal in shape and measures 63m by between 35-50m. Internal subdivisions are visible, including a possible trackway or corridor defined along the western side of the enclosure and this may relate to the movement of stock.

The site appears to represent more than one phase of boundary construction and enclosures, as some of the ditches overlie other elements. However the majority of the ditches are aligned NW-SE or NE-SW, suggesting that they are broadly part of the same phase or represent development of the same system of fields and boundaries over a considerable period, with the general alignments persisting even though particular elements go out of use and are replaced in a piecemeal fashion.

The fragmentary nature of the site in conjunction with the uncertainty over the archaeological origin of some of the cropmarks makes it hard to provide an assessment of overall average field size and pattern. There are several areas of a more heavily subdivided land, such as at TG 4934 0220 and TG 4948 0250. The ditches in these areas appear to define areas of land as small as 20m across and this may indicate a land use other than agricultural fields, such as small paddocks or stock enclosures or possibly even domestic or industrial activities. Some of these smaller areas appear to have trackways leading into them, again suggesting movement of people or stock. However some elements of these apparently highly subdivided areas may also be the product of a palimpsest of boundaries over time following a similar alignment.
S. Massey (NMP), 23 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 (S6) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.