NHER 68086 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of probable medieval to post medieval field boundaries and a trackway or road

March 2024. Wendling Beck and Fransham Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
The cropmarks of probable medieval to post medieval field boundaries and a trackway or road are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S4). A series of linear ditch features are visible across the area. These features most likely relate to former medieval to post medieval field boundaries. In the south of the area the cropmarks of a curvilinear bank with associated flanking ditches are visible. This feature may relate to a section of medieval to post medieval trackway or road. This feature has been previously suggested to have related to part of a circular enclosure (see NHER 14403). However, the cropmarks forming the northern and eastern sections of the suggested enclosure are most likely geological in origin. The features most likely date to the medieval to post medieval period. However, an earlier date for some of the features cannot be ruled out. It is also possible that some of the mapped features may relate to former post medieval to modern drainage ditches. The features are in close proximity to an area of medieval to post medieval earthworks and cropmarks most likely relating to the site of Lexham medieval manor and associated features (NHER 13544) located to the northeast. Cropmarks of post medieval filed boundaries recorded on the readily accessible historic maps (such as S5) are also visible on the aerial photograph. As the boundaries are recorded in good detail on the historic maps, the features have not been recorded as part of this project.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 08 March 2024.