Record Details
| NHER Number: | 50826 |
|---|
| Type of record: | Monument |
|---|
| Name: | Site of undated, possibly medieval to post medieval, rectilinear ditches, perhaps an enclosure |
|---|
Summary
A group of undated rectilinear ditches, perhaps representing an enclosure, are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs. They form part of an extensive area of complex, multi-period cropmarks (NHER 50811), from where finds ranging in date from the Mesolithic to the post medieval period have been recovered (e.g. NHER 39738). The orientation of the ditches is similar to that of the modern fields, suggesting they are of relatively recent origin. This orientation is shared by several clusters of probably medieval to post medieval enclosures (NHER 50825) visible to the east, which are believed to represent the former site of Rackheath village. A similar date and interpretation is plausible for the cropmarks described here, but in this case their orientation appears to be slightly different from that of a group of post medieval field boundaries (NHER 50817) with which they partially overlap, suggesting that the postulated enclosure went out of use at a relatively early date. At the same time, their orientation clearly contrasts with that of an earlier field system of possible Iron Age to Roman date (NHER 50818).
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 2732 1525 |
|---|
| Map Sheet: | TG21NE |
|---|
| Parish: | RACKHEATH, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
|---|
| SALHOUSE, BROADLAND, NORFOLK |
|---|
Full description
February 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks described below were previously recorded as part of NHER 29561.
A group of undated rectilinear ditches are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S6), centred at TG 2733 1524. The main elements may represent a rectilinear enclosure, perhaps with a trackway along its western side, but only two sides of this postulated enclosure are visible, the others being formed or overlain by Sloe Lane to the east and Dobb’s Lane to the north. The ditches form part of an extensive area of complex, multi-period cropmarks (NHER 50811), from where finds ranging in date from the Mesolithic to the post medieval period have been recovered (e.g. NHER 39738). The orientation of the ditches is similar to that of the modern fields, suggesting they are of relatively recent origin. It is shared by several clusters of probably medieval to post medieval enclosures (NHER 50825) visible to the east, which are believed to represent the former site of Rackheath village. A similar date and interpretation is plausible for the cropmarks described here, but in this case their orientation appears to be slightly different from that of a group of post medieval field boundaries (NHER 50817) with which they partially overlap, suggesting that the postulated enclosure went out of use at a relatively early date. At the same time, their orientation clearly contrasts with that of an earlier field system of possible Iron Age to Roman date (NHER 50818).
The postulated enclosure, which is centred at TG 2735 1522, is broadly rectilinear in plan and appears to be double ditched. As far as is visible, using the modern roads as its north and east sides, it measures up to 80.5m by 75m externally and 70.5m by 55m internally.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 15 February 2008.
Monument Types
- BOUNDARY DITCH (Unknown date)
- DITCH (Unknown date)
- DOUBLE DITCHED ENCLOSURE? (Unknown date)
- RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE? (Unknown date)
- TRACKWAY? (Unknown date)
- BOUNDARY DITCH (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
- DITCH (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
- DOUBLE DITCHED ENCLOSURE? (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
- RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE? (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
- TRACKWAY? (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| <S1> | Oblique Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1986. NHER TG 2715A-C (NLA 173/DAU2-4) 30-JUN-1986. |
| <S2> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: BKS. 1988. BKS 0136-7 07-AUG-1988 (NCC 3281-2). |
| <S3> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1990. OS/90224 145-6 31-JUL-1990 (NMR). |
| <S4> | Oblique Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. NHER TG 2715P (NLA 362/JDQ16) 19-JUN-1996. |
| <S5> | Oblique Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. NHER TG 2715Q-R (NLA 362/JDR2-3) 19-JUN-1996. |
| <S6> | Oblique Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. NHER TG 2715Y-Z (NLA 365/FFM1-6) 28-JUN-1996. |
Related records
| 50811 | Part of: Site of complex, multi-period field boundaries, trackways and enclosures (Monument) |