NHER 54667 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Former earthworks of common-edge boundaries of probable medieval to post medieval date

March 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The site of former earthworks of a series of common-edge boundary ditches and banks of probable medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S3) on the site of a post medieval windmill (NHER 15967), Ashwellthorpe. The site is centred on TM 1336 9647. A windmill is recorded to have been at the site since at least the 1820s, see NHER 15967 for details, but the majority of these earthworks appear to predate the post medieval boundaries and layout associated with the mill, other than a few curvilinear boundaries, which presumably represent components of the earlier layout that have continued in use. However it is possible that the earthworks relate to an earlier windmill at the site, potentially being medieval or earlier post medieval in date. Faden’s map of 1797 would suggest that this site is located on the northeastern edge of Fundenhall Common (S4) and that the westernmost ditch may have formed the boundary of the common itself. See NHER 54668 for a similar common edge boundary.
The earthworks largely consist of narrow but well defined ditches, which could indicate that some or all of these features have been in relatively recent use, i.e. well into the post medieval period. The banks mapped are relatively slight and in places it was hard to be certain as to their existence. The site has been cultivated by 1988 (S4) presumably levelling the earthworks, although it is possible that some traces remain. A possible small rectilinear ditched enclosure was tentatively mapped to the south at TM 1330 9639 (S3), although some doubt remains over its archaeological significance and it could merely relate to some recent activity at the site.
S. Horlock (NMP), 05 March 2012.