NHER 52326 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of enclosures and boundaries of late Saxon to post medieval date at Markshall

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of possible medieval settlement and boundaries and trackways of late Saxon to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S14) along the route of the Southern Bypass at Markshall, Caistor St Edmunds. Excavations of an area of aggregate extraction within this area (to the north of the road) in 1991 revealed evidence of Neolithic pits, a possible Saxon grave, medieval and post medieval ditches and pits and a number of unphased pits and ditches (S15) (NHER 9584). A house, thought to have been occupied around 1500 AD, was also excavated in 1949 to the northeast of the cropmarks (NHER 9584) and to the east of the 1991 excavation area. This northern part of this site has previously been interpreted as a medieval settlement, but this suggestion had been dismissed due to the lack of medieval features and artefacts recorded during modern excavations (see NHER 9584 and (S15) for details). However the NMP mapping could indicate that the most recent excavations were located to the north of the main area of features potentially dating to this period. The NMP mapping indicates significant ditches and possible enclosed areas sitting on the line of the Southern Bypass, however no features were identified during the watching brief, only Roman, Late Saxon and medieval finds (NHER 9584). It is possible that features have been truncated by the plough by this date. Whilst no definite evidence of a settlement of any great size was indicated by the aerial photographs, a small area of subdivided land, boundaries and tracks would suggest that some significant activity was taking place in this vicinity, whether it was domestic in nature is not clear.
The NMP mapping revealed a concentration of boundary ditches and rectilinear enclosures, centred on TG 2328 0498, which corresponds with the southern part of the 1991 excavation area. The remainder of the features included within this site are a series of trackways and boundary ditches to the south and southeast. The northern area of the main concentration of boundaries and enclosures corresponds with the southern part of the 1991 excavation area. The triple ditches running east-to-west from TG 2319 0499 to TG 2336 0500 (S4-S6, S12) contained medieval pottery, including small quantities of late Saxon Thetford Ware, and animal bone (S15). These have the appearance of either successive recuttings of a trackway or a multiple-ditched boundary. The more regular and straight ditches mapped to the north, were thought to be of post medieval date, although contained small quantities of Grimston Ware (S15). The NMP mapping would suggest that these may be part of the post medieval field layout. A series of pits and post-holes to the south of the medieval triple ditches were also excavated and were thought to be relatively recent in date (S15), although a relationship with the triple ditches could be suggested. A concentration of pit like features was identified on the aerial photographs within this area (S12), but was not mapped individually. An area of land seemingly heavily sub-divided into rectilinear enclosed areas, 5-10m across, was visible on aerial photographs at TG 2336 0493 (S5, S7, S9, S11), although obviously these may represent several phases of ditches and may not all be contemporary. It is possible that represents an area of particular activity, possibly industrial, or feasibly even an area of occupation. Unfortunately this falls just outside of the excavation area. The cropmarks and the excavation results suggest several phases of boundaries, tracks and possibly industrial or domestic activity dating from the late Saxon, medieval and post medieval periods. In addition to the excavation results, finds of Saxon date have also been recovered from wider vicinity of the site (NHER 9584, 9852, 31653).
The southern area of cropmarks is centred on TG 2353 0463 and consists of at least two or three embanked trackways heading across the valley of the River Tas to the east of the site. These routes are visible as earthworks on the valley floor in the 1950s (S3-S4). The former western continuation of these tracks is visible as cropmarks on the slightly higher ground (S6). To the south of the southern track and/or boundary is a series of small fields and enclosed areas. These may be of post medieval date and could be associated with the early eighteenth century Markshall Farm (NHER 9861), although they may be earlier in date.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 November 2009.

EARLY RECORDING OF CROPMARK EVIDENCE IN THIS AREA.
These notes were previously recorded under NHER 9584.

1956/1957. St. Joseph aerial photographs.
Possible traces of medieval village. See NHER 52326 for further discussion of these cropmarks.
Information from Norwich Castle Museum Record Card (S16).
H. Hamilton (NLA), 3 June 2009. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 27 November 2024.

January 1980. Air Photo Interpretation.
NAU aerial photographs taken 14 June 1974 to 2 July 1974 (S11) and (S12).
Cropmarks of linear features.
D. A. Edwards (NAU), 29 January 1980. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 27 November 2024.