NHER 57410 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Former earthworks of medieval to early post medieval boundaries and tracks

July 2012. Norfolk NMP.
The former earthworks of medieval to early post medieval boundaries, tracks and possible ridge and furrow and platforms are on aerial photographs in the area of Attleborough Wood, Attleborough (S1-S4). The site is centred on TM 0416 9722. The site consists of a sinuous bank and ditch track, which appears to cut through the former area of woodland to the west of the present wood. Some of the earthworks mapped clearly relate to former woodland boundaries. Attleborough Wood itself is not depicted on Faden’s 1797 map (S5), the site is shown as being located inbetween two areas of green, Fiddlers Green and Cock Robin Green, both of which have scattered settlement alongside. The wood is depicted on Bryant’s map of 1826 (S6), but the areas of green are not shown. It may be that this relatively small area of woodland existed in the late eighteenth century also, but was not depicted. Although it is also feasible that some or all of these marks relate to medieval to early post medieval settlement and agricultural activities on the edge of the two areas of green. An oblong platform alongside the road (S1) could feasibly relate to a former building platform. Two possible areas of ridge and furrow were tentatively identified from extremely faint and low earthworks in 1946 (S1), although it must be noted that the northern area is much less convincing and that it falls within the area depicted as woodland on Bryant could feasibly relate to tree felling activities. Whilst the southern area looks more convincing in June 1946 (S1), it is possible that some or all of the features relate to recent agricultural activity as indicated by marks and tracks visiible in March 1946 (S4). However in places it looked like these more recent marks overlain those included in the mapping.
S. Horlock (NMP), 24 July 2012.