NHER 52203 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Part of kite-shaped enclosure around Venta Icenorum

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks and slight earthworks of a possible segment of the triple ditch defences at Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786) are visible on aerial photographs to the north of the town (S1-S3). The site is centred on TG 2296 0374. These triple ditches which prior to the NMP were only recognised to the south and east of the town (NHER 52202) were interpreted as an early Roman military fort that pre-dated the establishment of the town, but it has been suggested that these are more likely to relate to town defences which may have formed a kite-shaped enclosure around the town, see the parent record NHER 52201 for detailed discussion. Nearly all sections of these four separate triple ditch defences (NHER 52202-4) measure 17-18m across in total, with ditches generally between 2-4m across. Given their proximity, alignments and this similarity in size and positioning it seems reasonable to suggest that they are part of the same defensive scheme and potentially even the same defensive enclosure. To the north of the northwestern quadrant of the town a series of three linear ditch-like features can be detected on a limited number of aerial photographs dating from 1928 (S1) to 1996 (S3), possibly even remaining as extremely low earthworks as late as 1996 (S3). The line of the ditches would appear to turn towards the western wall of the town. On some of aerial photographs these linears have the appearance of drainage features and indeed a modern drain continues the projected line of ditches. This initially led to the ditches being dismissed as modern, but the correlation between the dimensions of all four triple ditch sections would suggest that these are Roman and form part of the larger triple ditches.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.