NHER 54679 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Former earthworks of medieval to post medieval trackway and boundaries

March 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The former earthworks of medieval to post medieval boundaries and a trackway are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2) to the south of ‘The Street’, Ashwellthorpe. The site is centred on TM 1453 9755.
The main component of the site is a relatively major boundary ditch and/or hollow way or track, up to 4m wide, running alongside ‘The Street’ to the south (S1-S2). At least one boundary can be seen running off this to the south, others tentatively identified on the 1946 photographs (S1) were not included in the mapping, due to uncertainty over their age and archaeological significance. Two boundaries depicted on the 1842 Ashwellthorpe Tithe map (S3) were included in the mapping as they formed part of the overall pattern of features mapped. It is likely that the majority of these earthworks relate to former fields and property divisions, although it is feasible that the major boundary or trackway running alongside ‘The Street’ may represent a precursor to the road itself.
It must be noted that an area of slight ‘earthwork’ enclosures visible on aerial photographs from 1964 (S2) at TM 1464 9751 relate to an area of paddocks and fences still in use in 1946 (S1). None of the earthworks mapped survive at the site.
S. Horlock (NMP), 07 March 2012.