Monument record WSW 215 - Possible medieval-post medieval banks and ditches.

December 2019. Breckland National Mapping Programme.
Possible medieval-post medieval banks and ditches can be seen as earthworks on aerial photographs visualised lidar data (S1-S3). The banks and ditches most likely relate to a series of medieval-post medieval boundaries, field boundaries, possible garden features, trackways and drainage. It is possible that the majority of the features (namely the banks and ditches centred at TL 8179 7083) may have related to West Stow Hall (WSW 047) in close proximity. Furthermore, it is possible the linear ditches cantered at TL 8168 7111 may have related to medieval strip fields. A further area of banks and ditches (centred at TL 8152 71244) can be seen as earthworks in the 1940s and may also have related to medieval-post medieval boundaries and settlement features. These features have been mapped by extent as its possible that some of the ditches may have related to post medieval – modern drainage and natural features The majority of the features can be seen as earthworks in the 1940s with some of the features subsequently levelled(principally the earthworks centred at TL 8152 71244) and others surviving as earthworks on the visualised lidar data (from a survey flown in 2015)(S3). The possible medieval – post medieval banks and ditches are in close proximity to a large area of ridge and furrow to the east (CUL 079) and an area of holloways to the west (WSW 213).
J.Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 03rd December 2019