NHER 51970 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of possible medieval to post medieval field boundaries

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
A series of possible medieval to post medieval linear features were visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1), centred on TG 2885 1004. Their alignment appears to largely correspond with the field boundaries visible on the 1839 Tithe Map, and with the alignment of the linear features recorded 50m to the north (NHER 51956) and as such they have been dated to the medieval to post medieval period.

They are made up of a series of rectilinear enclosures, measuring in the region of 29m by 50m, at least one of which, centred at TG 2905 0999 appears to be double ditched. They are reminiscent of the possible medieval to post medieval settlement evidence 330m to the south (NHER 51971), and also the settlement evidence from Rackheath (NHER 50825). It is possible that these features represent enclosures associated with the settlement marked on Faden’s Map of 1797 (S2) to the east of Thorpe Farm, and to the south west of Tukes Green.
E. Bales (NMP), 10 March 2009.

April 2012-April 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometry survey on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Route (Blocks 45 and 46).
This survey identified several linear features that are likely to relate to this field system, including two that do not appear to have been visible as cropmarks.
See report (S3) and NHER 62627 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 5 August 2015. Amended 27 January 2020.

April-May 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road.
This work identified several ditches likely to correspond with the east-to-west aligned cropmarks present to either side of the track that divides these two fields. One produced a small amount of medieval pottery but otherwise dating evidence was limited. Although the cropmarks suggest that the extant track bisects some form of enclosure the trenching cast some doubt on this, with no evidence for a feature associated with the cropmark that appears to represent its eastern side (recorded as running between TG 2891 1005 and TG 2891 1000). A trench placed across its south-east corner also suggested that the cropmarks at this location were actually associated with a large pond-like feature.
See report (S4) and NHER 62627 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 January 2020.

January-September 2016. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
Excavation of two adjacent areas to either side of the track, where the route of Norwich Northern Distributor Road would pass through the east-to-west aligned cropmarks.
This work confirmed the findings of the preceding work, with no evidence for a feature associated with the cropmark running between TG 2891 1005 and TG 2891 1000. The dating evidence recovered does however again suggest that the east-to-west aligned cropmarks do indeed represent elements of a medieval to post-medieval field system. In the western field these features appeared to delineate an area containing several clusters of medieval pits. It should though be noted that there were some differences between the linear features, suggesting that we cannot assume that they were all originated during the same phase of activity.
See NHER 62627 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 January 2020.