NHER 7481 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of possible enclosures and field boundaries of an unknown date

1951. Aerial photography.
North west of Smuggler's Hole traces of rectangular enclosure lying across Roman road.Visible on 1946 RAF photographs. Noted by G. W. T. Barnett.
(Dark lines. E. Rose NAU). Visible on (S1). R.R.Clarke (NCM).

This enclosure is not visible on NAU 1990 air photographs (neither is the Roman road) except for its south side which on these forms part of a line of very unusual conjoined rectangular enclosures extending east to west.
D.Edwards and E.Rose (NAU) 27 September 1995.

13 July 1993. NLA air photography (S2).
Cropmarks of two conjoined rectangular enclosures aligned on the Roman road NHER2796.
The enclosures have internal subdividing ditches, possibly defining areas of paddocks and fields.
The interior of the enclosures appears to be dotted with pit like features.
There are a possible three round houses, circular enclosures with slight entrance gaps.
S. Massey (NLA), 9 February 2001.

26 June 1996. NLA air photography (S3).
Cropmarks of enclosures and associated features visible.
S. Massey (NLA), 24 September 2001.

August 2021. Aylsham and Brampton Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
Previously recorded (see above) cropmarks of possible field boundaries, trackways and enclosures of an unknown date are seen on aerial photographs (S4-S6). At TG 1495 2275 is a rectilinear enclosure. The enclosure is most likely complete however the eastern edge seems to be masked by geological cropmarks on the consulted sources. To the north east (centred at TG 1503 2282) are two L shape sections of ditch to. It is possible that the L shaped features may have been former field boundaries or sections of two possible enclosures. To the south of the eastern L shape ditch is a pair of a parallel linears (centred at TG 1511 2273) which may relate to a former trackway. The other linear ditch features as part of this record most likely relate to a series of probable field boundaries. These features may date to the Iron Age- Roman period and may relate to a series of agricultural and possible domestic features. This date may be supported by the features proximity to the line of the Roman road (NHER 2796) running across the area. However, it is also possible some of the features maybe Medieval- post medieval in date. An area of possible pits are visible at TG 1508 2286. These features have been mapped by extent as it unclear as to whether the features are archaeological or natural in origin. Multiple post medieval boundaries can be seen as cropmarks in close proximity and in some cases overlaying the mapped features. The post medieval boundaries are mapped in good detail on the Tithe, Frist and Second Edition Ordnance Survey Maps (S7-S9) and some of the boundaries can be seen as earthworks on the 1940s aerial photographs (S1). As a result of this these features have not been mapped as part of this project. A large area of cropmarks most likely relating to geological features can be seen on the consulted sources. It is therefore possible that some of the mapped features maybe natural in origin. The monument polygon for the site has also been updated.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 01 August 2021.