NHER 44938 (Monument record) - Field boundaries and a trackway of possible medieval to post medieval date

August 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of field boundaries and a trackway of possible medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs to the north and south of St Mary’s Road, Aldeby (S1-S2). The site is centred on TM 4542 9257. A series of probable medieval to post medieval field boundaries and enclosures are located to the northwest (NHER 44949) and these are possibly associated with the Aldeby Benedictine Priory (NHER 10725). It is possible that the trackway recorded as part of this site represents a continuation of that set of boundaries. These cropmarks are located within a wider spread of multi-phase cropmarks, see NHER 44939 for details.

To the north of the St Mary’s Road is a slightly sinuous trackway running from TM 4553 9273 to TM 4544 9282. This trackway follows a similar alignment to the broad boundary ditch to the northwest (NHER 44949), which is also double ditched in places. It is possible that this more irregular trackway gets incorporated into the boundary. A possible intersection of this sinuous and another trackway may be located at TM 4545 9280, however one of the ditches continues to the north and crosses the main trackway, possibly indicating that it is a different date. These cropmarks are located in close proximity to a multi-period finds assemblage (NHER 41979), ranging from Iron Age to post medieval in date and therefore cropmarks from several periods may be present. A group of possible Roman ditches have been recorded as cropmarks to the immediate south (NHER 44937).

To the south of the road a series of broad boundary ditches are visible (S1) which are aligned in a similar manner to those post medieval field boundaries which still exist in use to the north. These also follow a similar pattern to those medieval to post medieval field boundaries visible as cropmarks to the northwest (44949), possibly associated with the Priory. It is possible that these represent the pre-parliamentary enclosure field boundaries that were superseded by those existing in use, which follow a different alignment.
S. Massey (NMP), 15 August 2006.