NHER 50871 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of enclosure of probable Roman date

This enclosure was formerly recorded under NHER 17229 and 51069.

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a rectilinear enclosure of unknown date, but probable Roman date and possibly associated and contemporary with a Roman road (NHER 51069), are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Common Farm, Billingford (S1). The site is centred on TG 0163 1996. The road (NHER 51069) would appear to run southeast from the Billingford Road, a Roman road, the Fen Causeway (NHER 2796) towards the Bylaugh section of the Wensum Valley. The road is located to the immediate east of Billingford Roman town (NHER 7206). A series of boundaries (NHER 50870) possibly contemporary with this enclosure have been recorded separately.

The enclosure is 20m wide, by at least 25m long. Only the northwestern ditch sections are visible on aerial photographs, due a band of differential soils or geology masking the southwestern part. Although the enclosure follows a slightly different alignment to the roadway to the immediate south, it seems likely that the enclosure is broadly contemporary with the route. A small rectilinear enclosure seemingly conjoined to the northern roadside ditch also follows this alignment. Finds in the area range in date from Iron Age, Roman and Saxon periods (NHER 17229) so it feasible that the enclosure pre-dates or post-dates the Roman road.
S. Massey (NMP), 03 March 2008.