NHER 52379 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible Iron Age-Roman field boundaries and possible fragment of enclosure

October 2009. Norfolk NMP.
Several fragmentary linear features are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S7), centred at TG 1625 1597. These vary in alignment, and may well represent more than one phase of activity. However, the majority of features appear to be aligned northeast-southwest, parallel to the possible Iron Age to Roman land divisions recorded as NHER 52376, 52382 and 52384, and may therefore form part of a reasonably extensive Iron Age to Roman field system, similar to that recorded in the Broadland area of Norfolk (NHER 6096).
At least one of the features appears to cut the possible prehistoric trackway (NHER 52380) at TG 1618 1599 and is clearly later than it.
It also may be possible to distinguish one area of the site where three phases of features are evident. However, given the limitations of aerial photograph evidence for establishing definite chronological sequence, only limited attempts will be made to interpret the various phases of this site.
It is possible that the earliest of these features may be the northwest-southeast ditch which runs from TG 1626 1649 to TG 1629 1645, as it appears to be on roughly the same alignment as the possible late prehistoric trackways, NHER 52377 and 52380. The second visible phase may be represented by the southwest-northeast aligned ditch running from TG 1625 1645 to TG 1631 1654, aligned in a similar way to the Iron Age to Roman field divisions visible to the south of the site, and recorded as NHER 52376 and NHER 52380, 52382 and 52384. This appears to be cut by a roughly north-south orientated feature running from TG 1628 1644 to TG 1630 1653, which is parallel to a field division visible on the Felthorpe Tithe map of 1840 (S8), and can therefore be dated to the medieval to post medieval period. However, these features are visible on one set of photographs only (S6), and their relationship must be recorded with caution.
A linear ditch on a different north-south alignment, which may be a fragment of a faint enclosure ditch, is visible from TG 1631 1546 to TG 1632 1548. This feature is only visible on one set of photographs, (S4) along with two other fragmentary linear ditches in the vicinity, one of which is cut by a linear ditch which is clearly visible as a field boundary on the Taverham Tithe Map of 1845 (S9). There are many geological features also visible in this area.
E. Bales (NMP), October 2009.

September 2010. Geophysical Survey.
Survey of proposed development site between Reepham Road and Marriot's Way.
Although the area examined coincided with several of the cropmarks in this group no corresponding anomalies were identified. It was however noted that these cropmarks were still visible on Google Earth images taken in 2006, suggesting that sub-surface remains may well survive that can not be detected by conventional geophysical prospection methods.
See report (S10) and NHER 63460 for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 4 July 2019.

June-July 2011. Excavation.
Excavation of site of new biogas plant and associated new roadway.
The main excavation area exposed two adjacent trackway ditches and a third, presumably broadly contemporary perpendicular ditch to the east. The eastern trackway ditch coincided with the slightly sinous north-east to south-west aligned cropmark at TG 1638 1617. The excavated features were regarded as potentially prehistoric, although finds were limited to a small number of undiagnostic handmade pottery sherds. There was though a notable absence of evidence for more recent activity on the site.
See NHER 63460 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 January 2023.

April 2012-April 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometry survey on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Block 6).
The survey of a block of land immediately to the east of Fir Covert Road identified a single probable field boundary. Although it was suggested that this feature corresponds with a boundary on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map it appears that it may actually be a continuation of one of the cropmark features described above.
See report (S11) and NHER 61138 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2015.

April and September 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development site to south of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (now the Broadland Northway).
Although the survey area coincided with a number of the southernmost cropmarks in this group only one was associated with a potentially corresponding geophysical anomaly – a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned cropmark at TG 1649 1558.
See report (S12) and NHERs 50496 and for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2026.

July-September 2025. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site to south of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (now the Broadland Northway).
Although several of the excavated trenches coincided with cropmarks in this group only one a found to be associated with a surviving ditch – an extensive north-north-east to south-south-west aligned cropmark running between TG 1624 1594 and TG 1598 1554. Unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered.
See report (S13) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2026.