NHER 66565 (Monument record) - Undated, but potentially Roman enclosures and possible trackways

Archaeological investigations at site where finds from metal-detecting suggest the presence of a Roman settlement (NHER 41010). This location also coincides with an extensive group of linear cropmarks thought to probably represent elements of a field system of Iron Age to Roman date (NHER 69824).

October 2019. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of area centred at TG 4399 1121. This survey identified a number of north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies. These appear closely related, potentially representing ditches remarketing a large sub-square enclosure and at least one associated trackway. The orientation of these remains suggests they were almost certainly related to features visible as cropmarks in the fields the west and south. Many of the linear anomalies have a distinct 'chequerboard' appearance which it suggested to be the result of past deep ploughing. It could also perhaps be the result of material that has been dumped into the ditches.
Also of interest is a cluster of responses immediately to the north of the possible enclosure, which appears to comprise a rectangular anomaly measuring c.12m x 6m, with a circular features at its centre. There are also faint traces of a possible surrounding curvilinear feature. A number of discrete anomalies within the interior of the possible enclosure potentially represent pit-type features.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 May 2026.

October 2021. Geophysical Survey.
This second magnetometer survey saw the examination of a block of land immediately to the south of the area examined in 2019.
This survey revealed a number of additional north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies that were clearly related to the probable enclosure and trackway ditches recorded during the preceding phase of work. The majority of these anomalies can be related to the cropmarks previously noted on aerial imagery from 2006 (NHER 69824), including several probable ditches that potentially formed three sides of a slightly trapezoidal enclosure in line with the probable enclosure recorded in 2019. A discrete positive anomaly in the southern corner of this new enclosure is thought to potentially represent a square pit-type feature.
It is suggested at a strongly dipolar discrete response at TG 4393 1101 may represent the remains of a World War Two era searchlight stanchion but no explanation for this interpretation is given.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 May 2026.

September 2022. Excavation.
Details to follow.
Information on finds recovered from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 6 February 2023.