NHER 52252 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a rectangular enclosure, possibly a farmstead and/or part of field system of possible Roman date

1949. Field Observation?.
Photography from the RAF National Air Survey of 1946 (S4) shows a "chequer board raod plan with houses, about 1/2 mile (800m) northeast of the northeast corner of the Roman town wall".
This was examined by R. R. Clarke (NCM) in 1949. "One site at least coincides with known site of Roman house".
These remains have been noted by the Ordnance Survey Office Archaeology Branch (S2).
Information from Norwich Castle Museum Record Card (S1).
It is of note that on the corresponding Norwich Castle Museum map, this area was noted as a Roman field system.
Reported in the Norwich Research Committee bulletin in 1949 (S5).
These cropmarks were previously recorded as NHER 9815.
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 22 November 2024.

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a large rectangular enclosure and boundary ditches and fields of probable Roman date, are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Cantley Hill, Caistor St Edmund (S6-S10). The site is centred on TG 2422 0425. Some of these cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 9815. This site consists of a large rectangular enclosure at TG 2428 0432, measuring approximately 85m by at least 60m, although the western part of the enclosure is not clearly visible, but is potentially indicated by the two short sections of double ditch to the west, suggesting a size of 86m by 77m (S9-S10). A possible entrance in the eastern side is suggested by break in the ditch. The remainder of the site is characterised by fragmentary boundary ditches following broadly the same alignment as the enclosure, some of which could feasibly relate to additional enclosures and/or fields contemporary to the main enclosure. Cropmarks relating to a Roman settlement have previously been recorded at this location (formerly under NHER 9815), and these were described as showing a ‘chequer board road plan with houses’ citing a 1946 aerial photograph (S11). However consultations of this run of aerial photographs and others suggested that the soilmarks visible in April 1946 relate to former post medieval field boundaries and agricultural features such as former pits. The significant amount of Roman finds recovered from this general area (NHER 9815 and NHER 28200) are attributed to these apparent cropmarks. However it seems more likely that the finds are associated with the cropmark enclosure and associated fields identified on the later vertical aerial photographs. This enclosure is likely to represent the remains of a farmstead or small settlement with associated fields and agricultural enclosures. The parchmarks and possible earthworks of a small circular mound have been identified within the southeastern corner of this enclosure. This could represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, although an alternative interpretation could be that the slight mound and parchmark relates to the former presence of a Roman building or building platform, see NHER 52250 for details.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.