NHER 49316 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The cropmarks of field boundaries of possible Roman date

March 2007. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a group of field boundaries and trackways, potentially of predominantly Roman date, are visible on aerial photographs to the east of Catfield village (S1-S3). The cropmarks recorded represent more than one phase of enclosure and ditches and it is likely that some of these additional field boundaries are post medieval in date. The site is centred on TG 3850 2130.

The majority of the ditches mapped are aligned roughly NW-SE or NE-SW and are likely to be the remains of former field boundaries and trackways (where double ditches were identified). The main concentration of cropmarks is within the northeastern part of the site and this area is characterised by numerous fragmentary parallel linear ditches, which appear to form trackways and boundaries. Roman date finds have been recorded within the general vicinity of these cropmarks (NHER 22615 and 40862).

It is possible that the more continuous and regular boundaries recorded to the west of the site, following a slightly different alignment to the rest, are medieval to post medieval in date. These are reminiscent of the field boundaries visible to the north (NHER 49321), which were clearly marked on the 1841 Sutton Tithe map. No comparable map was available at the time of recording for the Catfield parish, so it is hard to decipher whether these boundaries were of a similar date.
S. Massey (NMP), 30 March 2007.