NHER 49193 (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 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 Belton Common in the Fritton St Olaves and Belton with Browston parishes (S1-S6). These cropmarks are also located within a complex area of multi-phase and undated cropmarks, see NHER 49200 for details. The site is centred on TG 4810 0146, although the main concentration of cropmarks is centred on TG 4782 0120.

The majority of the ditches recorded under this site are all broadly aligned NW-SE or NE-SW, suggesting that they are 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. These ditches have been distinguished as representing a different phase to NHER 45263, which are a group of similarly aligned boundaries recorded within this same area, as they appear to either overlie or are overlain by ditches from this site in the area of Caldecott Hall. Although undated, all of the cropmarks following this broadly similar alignment (45175, 45229 and 45263) have been interpreted as being late prehistoric to Roman in date. The northeastern part of this site appears to be overlain by a field system of unknown date, but with possible Roman origins (NHER 43592). A group of post medieval boundaries also overlie this area (NHER 45271).

A possible rectilinear enclosure may be centred on TG 4788 0120, measuring 155m by 100m, although the cropmarks are a little too fragmentary to be certain (S1, S3). To the northeast of this possible enclosure is an area of highly subdivided ground, centred on TG 4801 0130. This is defined by a series of closely-spaced parallel and perpendicular ditches (S6). This may relate to the internal area of another enclosure, although no such feature can definitely be identified on the aerial photographs. Another possible incomplete rectilinear enclosure may be located at TG 4756 0108, potentially measuring 70m by 100m (S3). The remainder of the ditched features recorded within this site are likely to be fragmentary field boundaries, representing broadly contemporary fields and land divisions.
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 (S7) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.