NHER 54666 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Earthworks of a possible medieval to post medieval track

March 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of a trackway of possible late medieval to post medieval date is visible on aerial photographs (S1-S3) to the north of the sixteenth or seventeenth century Manor Farm (NHER 24084), Ashwellthorpe. The site is centred on TM 1397 9670. The trackway, which is defined by two ditches, and is up to 14m wide, may have acted as an access route between the woods, Kynvets Grove, and the late medieval and post medieval house to the southwest. Other minor earthworks are visible within the vicinity of the farm to the south (NHER 24084) but are largely recorded by the Ordnance Survey Second Edition map (1902-7, 25”) (S4), most notably a gully leading towards an elongated pond.
The track appears to open outwards to create a funnel-type entrance as it nears the woodland. In the 1960s (S1) a modern track appears to coincide with the earthwork defined route and continue to the north, however later photographs (S2-S3) suggests that this is due to the presence of a gap in the boundary at this point and that the two routes are not necessarily related.
S. Horlock (NMP), 05 March 2012.