NHER 52324 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Multi-period cropmarks within the area of Harford Farm

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The site of undated and multi-period cropmarks that is visible on aerial photographs (S1-S10) around Harford Farm, the site of major excavations in advance of the construction of the Southern Bypass (NHER 9794). See record NHER 9794 and (S11) for details of the excavation. More coherent groups of cropmarks within the area of this site have been recorded separately, including components of a barrow cemetery (NHER 52280), several phases of enclosures and fields of later prehistoric to Roman date (NHER 52278, 52292), Iron Age roundhouses and associated structures (NHER 52314, 52277, 52279) and a group of square-ditched funerary monuments of later Iron Age or Roman date (NHER 52289), see these records for detailed descriptions of the cropmarks in this area. This site is centred on TG 2238 0427 and relates only to the fragmentary that are the remaining unphased and undated components of this complex cropmark landscape. The majority of these features are fragmentary former field boundaries, ditches and possible trackways. The only feature of any note is a possible rectilinear enclosure at TG 2248 0431 (S5). It must be noted that the aerial photographs of this site also exhibited high levels of non-archaeological cropmarks, which were omitted from the mapping where their natural origin was obvious. However, given the complexity and prevalence of these marks, it is feasible that some of the more irregular fragmentary ditch-like cropmarks mapped, could also be of a non-archaeological origin.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 November 2009.

EARLY DISCOVERY OF CROPMARKS IN THIS AREA
All observations below were previously recorded under NHER 9794. See NHER 9794 for details of excavated evidence only.

1933. Aerial Photography.
A number of "circular and other markings" were observed on an aerial photograph taken by H. Frederick Low of the Norfolk and Norwich Aero Club in 1933.
These included markings on both sides of the road, in an area west of Chapel Hill known as "The Heath", and to the south of the road known as "The Forty Acres" (S16). By 1935 they were described by R. R. Clarke as "numerous circles and rectangular enclosures" (S16) and it was recognized that they may be the remains of "tumuli".
These cropmarks were reported in the Eastern Daily Press in September 1933 (S14) and March 1934 (S15).
Information from Norwich Castle Museum Record Card (S12) and (S13).
Also noted in published articles (S16) and (S17).
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 25 November 2024.

December 1952. Scheduled.
This was one of three areas in Markshall parish which received Scheduled Monument Protection.
Scheduled as County Number 245 and known as "Sites discovered by air photography at Markshall", the areas were labelled A-C.
This was area C, centered TG 224 043. Three mapped areas were identified, which roughly covered the excavated area north of the exisiting road, the large ring ditch excavated in 1938 truncated by the road (NHER 52282), and the group of ring ditches to the south and east of these barrows.
Information from Ancient Monuments Form (S18).
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 26 November 2024.

February 1981. Air Photo Interpretation.
Group of six ring ditches and possibly seven square features (square barrows?), as well as other linear features indicating lines of ditches.
Observed in Norfolk Air Photo Library images TG 2204/A-AW (Inclusive).
See 1:2500 and 6-inch scale overlays.
Information from HER Record Card (S4).
D. Edwards (NAU), 17 February 1981. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 25 November 2024.

July 1981. Air Photo Interpretation.
Plotting of cropmarks revealed that the western end of the northernmost of the three scheduled areas has now been destroyed by the extension of the hard area, destroying the double ring ditch.
This ring ditch has been recorded separately as NHER 52288. See NHER 52288 for further details.
Information from HER Record Card (S4).
A. Lawson (NAU), 31 July 1981. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 25 November 2024.

February 2001. Air Photo Interpretation.
NLA air photography dated 13 July 1993 (S19).
Several cropmarks; that of a ring ditch and a square barrow can just be identified. The cropmark response over the site is very weak at this time.
S. Massey (NLA), 8 February 2001.

February 2001. Air Photo Interpretation.
NLA air photography dated 15 October 1993 (S20).
Area of site can be seen and some cropmarks are visible.
H. Clare (NLA), 21 February 2001.

November 2001. Air Photo Interpretation.
NLA air photography dated 11 August 1997 (S21).
Cropmarks still visible. Several ring ditches, square enclosure/barrow etc.
H. Clare (NLA), 2 November 2001.