NHER 51971 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of medieval to post medieval enclosures, possible trackway and possible farmstead

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a group of ditches, probably representing the remains of enclosures, and at least one possible trackway, perhaps relating to a farmstead or former settlement site, are visible on aerial photographs to the north and south of Smee Lane (S1)–(S4). The site is centred on TG 2937 0956. It is likely that these cropmarks represent features of a medieval to post medieval date, although a different phase of activity to the east northeast-west southwest aligned boundary ditches (NHER 52112) in the vicinity. They also appear to represent a distinct area of settlement and enclosure, rather than just remnants of field boundaries, as other features in the area appear to be (NHER 52113).

Those to the north of Smee Lane, centred at TG 2948 0965, may correspond to a farm depicted on Faden’s map of 1797 (S5). Several of the features also seem to correspond with boundaries on the Tithe Maps (S6)-(S7), particularly the enclosure with its corner at TG 2937 0954, which has a double ditched feature or possible trackway leading north from this point, suggesting that the features date to the medieval to post medieval period. There were also a number of possible pit features in the vicinity of these linear features, most of which appeared to be natural geological solution holes, but the largest of these, centred at TG 2925 0956 and TG 2922 0958 were possibly of archaeological origin.
E. Bales (NMP), 10 March 2009.

May 2014-January 2015. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey on updated proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Area
P2).
This survey identified a number of linear anomalies that clear relate to the western half of the enclosure identified to the south of Smee Lane. In additional to the western and southern sides of the enclosure the survey also identified several linear anomalies of similar width that appear to represent probable internal divisions, all of which also correspond with mapped cropmarks. There was also no clear evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the possible additional enclosure to the west (at TG 2915 0957), although a line of discrete anomalies may represent a ditch associated with its western side.
See report (S8) and NHER 62623 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2018.

April-May 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of area on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Field P1).
This work saw a number of trenches placed across the lines of the cropmarks associated with the western half of the enclosure to the south of Smee Lane. As suggested by the geophysical survey sub-surface remains were found to be associated with all of the mapped cropmarks, including the fainter linear features to the west of the main enclosure. Although finds were not numerous the pottery recovered was all of medieval date, with the assemblage as a whole suggesting that these enclosures were probably associated with a 13th- to 14th-century phase of activity (later material being notably absent). A number of pits and other discrete features were identified within the main enclosure, providing some evidence to support the suggestion that this enclosure and its associated remains were more than just field boundaries.
See report (S9) and NHER 62623 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2018.

2016. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
Excavation of site on route of Norwich Northern Distributor Road.
Details to come.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 April 2018.

April 2020. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with installation of new water pipeline immediately to south of Smee Lane.
Although the monitored section of the pipeline easement coincided with three cropmarks in this group (at TG 2938 0957 and TG 2947 0958) no potentially associated sub-surface remains were recorded. It should though be noted that natural geological deposits were only intermittently fully exposed and it is possible that additional features were obscured by the remaining remnants of the subsoil layer.
See NHER 64661 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 March 2021.