NHER 52205 (Monument record) - Cropmarks and earthworks of a possible Roman road or embankment

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks and earthworks of banks and ditches, potentially represent the remains of at least one possible Roman road or embankment and drainage ditches of medieval to post medieval date to the west of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786) are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 2283 0314. The main component of the site is a bank-like parched running along the river floor from TG 2278 0303 to TG 2281 0322 (S2-S3). This is flanked by a ditch or channel on either side; the eastern of is marked as a drain on the Ordnance Survey First edition map (S4) and is still an active drainage ditch as late as 1960 (S1). Despite this the feature is tentatively suggested as being Roman in origin, as it fits well with the adjoining boundaries of probable Roman date visible as cropmarks to the east (NHER 52211). It is feasible that this is a branch road leading from the Roman Pye road to the southwest (NHER 7947 & 52197), which appears to head towards the town through Dunston Park but then continues on a more northerly course to the west of the River Tas. A potentially comparable route to the southeast of the town has been recorded under NHER 52226. Another possible bank-like parchmark is also visible in 1960 (S1), 6-8m across, and seemingly underlying the triple-ditch defences (NHER 52201-2). Although this feature which appears quite well defined to the north appears feed into a much broader and irregular lighter area that has the appearance of being geological in nature. It is therefore hard to confidently say whether this feature is entirely natural or whether the southern section is obscured by underlying geology.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.