NHER 49560 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Multi-phase cropmarks, including some of Roman date

Some of these cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 36340.

June 2007. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of an undated enclosure, ditches and field boundaries are visible on aerial photographs to the south of railway line at Postwick (S1-S6). The site is centred on TG 3025 0777. It seems likely that these cropmarks represent several phases of activity, although the main components of the site are likely to be Roman in date. Finds dating from the Roman, Saxon and medieval to post medieval periods have been recovered in this general vicinity, with a noticeable quantities of Roman material (NHER 15999, 20330-1, 20434, 30475, 31194, 32598, 34968-9, 34966, 35135, 38152).

The site consists of number of trackways, the most extensive and clearly distinguished example runs SE-NW in a slightly sinuous manner and is bisected by Ferry Lane (S4). This trackway is likely to be late prehistoric to Roman in date. Two small possible ring ditches are located at TG 3008 0756 and TG 3020 0764; both are penannular and measure 8-10m in diameter (S2-S5). The southwestern example is the more convincing of the two. The size and penannular plan of these ring ditches would suggest that they represent the remains of the eavesdrip gullies from late prehistoric to Roman date round houses.

To the north of Ferry Lane is a rectangular enclosure, centred on TG 3013 0784, measuring 115m by 70m (S6). This appears to be either overlain by or overlies a Bronze Age round barrow (NHER 36340). Although it is possible that the enclosure represents a Neolithic mortuary enclosure, this seems unlikely, and therefore it must be assumed that the enclosure is the later of the two sites. This may also suggest that the enclosure is relatively late in date, as the barrow is still surviving as a low earthwork in the twentieth century.

The remainder of the site is characterised by fragmentary ditches and rectilinear enclosures of varying phases and dates, such as TG 3003 0764 and TG 3022 0766, some of which are likely to be Roman in date.
S. Massey (NMP), 23 June 2007.

March 2009 Norfolk NMP.
An extension to the site described above is postulated by the recognition of a possible fragmentary enclosure or section of field system visible on aerial photographs (S7), at TG 2994 0784.

The T-shaped ditch feature is reminiscent of the rest of the site, characterised as it is by fragmentary ditches and rectilinear enclosures such as those at TG 3003 0764 and TG 3022 0766, which are likely to be Roman in date. It shares a northeast-southwest alignment with several of the other features in this area, and as such may well also share a Roman date.

The site boundary has been extended to the west by 75m to include this feature.
E. Bales (NMP), 19 March 2009.

July 2023. Broads Hidden Heritage: Aerial Perspectives.
The site described above has been extended to include additional cropmarks visible to the north of the railway line on Google Earth aerial photographs from 2006 (S7).
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council, Historic Environment Service), 5 July 2023.