Monument record FRK 023 - Post Medieval water meadow and former Post Medieval ridge and furrow

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Summary

Former `ridge and furrow' W of Lee Brook.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 6650 7193 (155m by 157m) Centred on
Map sheet TL67SE
Civil Parish FRECKENHAM, FOREST HEATH, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Former `ridge and furrow' W of Lee Brook.
April 1981: Visited prior to destruction. Described as S shape (rather than standard reverse S) with crests 9 paces apart, depth from crest to furrow, circa 2.5 feet. Running N-S, parallel to Lee Brook (on E side), though also at right angles to Lee Brook at S end where brook turns W. The S shape, small size and height etc. indicate a late date, probably C18-C19 (S1). July 1983: Visible on APs (S2).
January 1990: N end built on, rest levelled as playing field, no longer visible, except for surviving remnant in meadow to W at TL 6643 7192. The width from furrow base to furrow base is 8.7m, with the ridge itself 5.6m wide; the height from furrow base to ridge top is approximately half a metre (S3).
The low-lying position of these features makes it highly likely that they are in fact floated water meadows - a form of artificial irrigation common in Breckland. See also STN 024 and sites in Norfolk at West Tofts and Lynford (S4).

Sources/Archives (6)

  • <S1> (No record type): SAU, Carr R D, site report, Freckenham 023, April 1981, ill.
  • <M1> Unpublished document: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Parish Files. (S1).
  • <S2> (No record type): SAU, APs, ANP 22, 23, July 1983.
  • <M2> (No record type): APs: ANP 22, 23.
  • <S3> (No record type): SAU, Martin E, 1990.
  • <S4> (No record type): SAU, Sussams K, Breckland Archaeological Survey, 1996.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Jul 25 2013 10:22AM

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