NHER 52084 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post-medieval trackway or road

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The line of a road or track is marked on the 1824-1836 Ordnance Survey One-inch map (S1) and is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S2-S4). The site is centred on TG 2082 0208. Although it is possible that this originally track relates to post medieval industrial activity on the edges of Swardeston Hall Green, see NHER 52066 for discussion, there remains a possibility that the road is earlier in date and relates to the medieval settlement of Gowthorpe (NHER 52069) and the Gowthorpe manorial site (NHER 9716), both located to the north and east of the track.

The track or road is visible running from TG 2079 0200 to TG 2085 0216 as a parched linear, 5.5m wide (S2) to the south and by two parallel ditches to the north (S3-S4). The track possibly continues in use as late as the 1940s (S5), providing access from a field entrance to the road running across the green. The earliest map that this route is depicted on is the 1824-1836 Ordnance Survey One-inch map (S1). The fact that the road or track is not depicted on the 1797 Faden map (S6) or the 1826 Bryant map (S7) is likely to reflect the differing levels of detail of the three maps and what was considered worthy of including, rather than to necessary indicate that it is a newly created track dating to the 1820s or 30s. An early date for the track may also be indicated by the fact that it possibly continues under the main track that runs diagonally across the former green, as by the parallel ditches identified to the north (S3-S4).
S. Horlock (NMP), 30 April 2009.