NHER 52273 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of extramural Roman town of Venta Icenorum

Some of these cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 9813.

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks and soilmarks of a possible section of Roman road or an embankment of uncertain date to the north of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786) (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 2301 0373. This site consists of fragmentary cropmarks of roads and streets, some of which follow the dominant east-west alignment as the main town street grid, whilst others run diagonally to it. These roads and/or streets running at diagonal angles to the street grid perhaps refer to the diagonal road leaving the town to the northeast (NHER 52272) and the possible kite-shaped, triple-ditched town defences, see NHER 52201 for discussion. Discrete and angular parchmarks at TG 2305 0370 and TG 2312 0370 may indicate the presence of masonry structures, although they may represent fragments of former streets. It must be noted that within the northeastern part of this site some potentially post medieval and early modern date tracks associated with the Old Hall Farm made the confident identification of Roman features hard. For example the parchmark of a possible road leading from the northern gate (S5) could feasibly match up with modern tracks leading to and from the town to the farm in 1928 (S1). However, due to the similarity of this parchmark and others of roads of more convincing Roman origin, the possible route was mapped. Additional possible streets continuing the line of the westernmost N-S road of the town could possibly be visible as vegetation marks in 1928 (S2), however these were not mapped due to the uncertainty over the marks.
To the west of the town walls a series of parchmarks and cropmarks indicate the possible presence of additional enclosures and possible structures associated with the settlement (S3), although these features are far from clear and it is possible that some are derive from recent agricultural practices. A series of parallel ditches running along the western extremity of the cropmarks and in close proximity to the current course of the River Tas may have acted as drainage channels as well as boundaries. A possible elongated linear parchmark, up to 15m across, running broadly parallel with the western walls of the town (mapped as an extent of area) (S3) could feasible relate the remains of a rampart (possibly part of the triple ditch defences – see NHER 52201) or roadway running alongside the town. Although it must be stated that this feature is of uncertain archaeological significance and again could be agricultural.
S. Horlock (NMP), 11 March 2009.