NHER 66696 (Monument record) - Undated possible ditches, post-medieval field boundaries and remains associated with World War Two airfield

November 2016. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological impact of large proposed development.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 March 2023.

October 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Area 4).
This survey identified little of obvious archaeological significance. The more notable responses include a somewhat irregular cluster of linear anomalies in the south-east corner of the field, although these are not necessarily archaeological in origin. Although numerous linear cropmarks are visible on aerial photographs of this field no corresponding anomalies were identified. These cropmarks include features thought to potentially represent elements of an Iron Age to Roman field system (NHER 50726) and part of an extensive group of undated and post-medieval field boundaries and other remains recorded as NHER 50725.
The linear anomalies that were identified include several that correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Rackheath tithe map (S2).
There was also clear evidence for remains associated with the World War Two airfield (NHER 8170), with several lines of short, parallel linear anomalies corresponding with two of the main runways. These anomalies are adjacent and perpendicular to the recorded positions of the runways, suggesting they potentially represent associated drainage features.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 November 2023.

February 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site (Area 3).
This survey of the western end of the field identified several groups of short linear anomalies that clearly relate to the World War Two airfield (NHER 8170), these lying adjacent and perpendicular to the recorded positions of two of the main runways. It is possible that they represent associated drainage structures. Similar anomalies were also recorded in the field to the west (NHER 67561).
Other anomalies include two parallel west-north-west to east-south-east linear anomalies, the southern of which corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Rackheath tithe map (S1). A second was almost certainly an element of the same field system (though associated with a boundary that had already been removed by the mid 19th century). This anomaly also corresponds with a linear cropmark recorded at this location, which is part of a group of undated and post-medieval field boundaries and other remains recorded as NHER 50725. There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a number of other fragmentary linear cropmarks recorded in this part of the field.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 November 2023.

March 2022. Desk-based Assessment.
Updated archaeological assessment of large proposed development.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 March 2023.