NHER 52025 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of trackway of unknown date

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a possible trackway and associated boundaries of unknown definite date and origin, are visible on aerial photographs (S1 and S3) cutting across the line of a Roman road (NHER 52027), which now forms the Keswick and Swardeston parish boundary. The site is centred on TG 2039 0348. The archaeological origin of this trackway-like feature is uncertain and it is feasible that some if not all of the marks visible relate to relatively recent agricultural activity. The trackway appears to run towards the modern gap in the field boundary and may represent the line of vehicle movement within the field. The broad, dark and slightly blotchy nature of some of the cropmarks could be characteristic of when particular areas of crop have received higher amounts of fertilizer when compared with the surrounding areas.
The ‘trackway’ also appears to post-date the cropmarks relating to the Roman road (see NHER 52024). Given that this was also the line of the parish boundary and formed an extant field boundary or verge as late as 1847 (Keswick Tithe map) (S2), it seems unlikely that a trackway would realistically post-date this feature. The fact that the line of the road is formalised into a parish boundary would suggest that it continues as either a significant road and/or boundary in the post-Roman period. This relationship would again possibly indicate that this trackway like feature has been created relatively recently. The apparent continuation of a couple of the minor ditches possibly associated with this trackway in the adjacent field to the west could indicate a non-agricultural origin for some of the cropmarks. However these features unfortunately have no direct relationship with the main trackway feature.
The trackway (if it is archaeological) measures 350m long, running from TG 2028 0350 to TG 2063 0343, and the two parallel ditches are 7m apart.
S. Horlock (NMP), 01 April 2009.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
The area examined coincided with the north-westernmost north-west to south-east aligned cropmark at TG 2021 0356. There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains.
See NHER 66377 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 January 2023.