NHER 52266 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible enclosure and/or boundary ditches

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of part of a possible enclosure and/or boundary ditches of either Roman or medieval to post medieval date, adjacent to a segment of the Roman triple ditch defences at Venta Icenorum (NHER 52204) are visible on aerial photographs to the northeast of the town (S1). 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. The site consists of part of a possible rectangular enclosure, suggested by an L-shaped ditch segment, and a number of associated ditch fragments (S1). These ditches follow broadly the same alignment as one arm of the triple ditches within this area and therefore may represent contemporary Roman date features. However it is necessary to mention that some of the straight sections of the ditches to roughly correspond with the layout of strip fields depicted on the 1840 Caistor St Edmund Tithe map (S2), so a medieval to post medieval date is also feasible for some or all of these ditches.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.