NHER 49202 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Multi-phase cropmark site

December 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks recorded under this site represent undated and fragmentary cropmarks located to the south of Beccles Road, Fritton (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 4753 0029. These include several small enclosures and two penannular ring ditches, which may be the remains of late prehistoric domestic structures, although this is not certain. The cropmarks in this area that appeared to be of late prehistoric or Roman date have been recorded under NHER 49201 and those of a probable medieval to post medieval date are recorded under NHER 28825.

Two penannular ring ditches, 5-7m in diameter, are also visible on aerial photographs to the immediate northwest of hall, located at TG 4736 0016 and TG 4745 0008 (S3). The date of these features is uncertain and it is possible that they may relate to garden features associated with the hall (NHER 10505). Although the northernmost ring would appear to partially overlain by the medieval to post medieval trackway that leads to the hall (recorded under NHER 28825). This could suggest that these ring ditches are much earlier in date and it is therefore possible that they relate to late prehistoric enclosures and fields located largely to the north of these features. The two ring ditches are located within close proximity to a possible enclosure, located on the southern edge of the site. It is therefore possible that they could be the remains of late prehistoric domestic structures or round houses.

A small sub-rectangular enclosure is also located at TG 4719 0017 (S4). The date and significance of this feature is unknown. It is broadly parallel to Church Lane, which is 20m to the south, and it is therefore possible that it represents a small medieval to post medieval stock enclosure, although this is not certain.

In the region of the medieval to post medieval enclosures and field boundaries at TG 4743 0017 are a concentration of fragmentary linear ditches, it is not clear whether these are contemporary with the medieval to post medieval components of this landscape. It is possible that they relate to former gardens or landscape features associated with the hall.

The remainder of the features recorded under this number are fragmentary linear ditches that are likely to represent the remains of former field boundaries of unknown date.
S. Massey (NMP), 01 December 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 (S5) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.