Monument record SOL 002 - Large field system of possible later prehistoric to Roman date

Rectangular enclosure with extension N, crosses road and field pattern and small rectangular fields (?) noted on NAU APs, 1974 and 1975.

January 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
The cropmarks of large dispersed and potentially multi-phase field system of unknown date are visible on aerial photographs (S3-S10, S12-S16). The site is centred on TM 5025 9674. This field system would appear to be a continuation of – or at least the same broad phase as - the much more coherent coaxial system to the north at Park Farm (SOL 010). This field system and others in the area have broadly been interpreted as being of later prehistoric and/or Roman date. The two areas of cropmarks have been split into two records for the ease of recording and to try and reduce the overall size of records relating to large disparate spreads of field system cropmarks. The record SOL 002 originally only related to a small part of these features and now includes components of BLN 00 & SOL 011.
The main characteristic of these sites overall is a series of broadly parallel fragmentary trackways and linear boundaries, with a grid pattern of fields (or paddock and/or enclosures) in-between. The southern part of this area of fields appears more complex and has a less regular and coaxial layout. In part this appears to be a response to the typography as the field system meets the valley of Summerhouse Water to the west. In this southern area there is also evidence of phasing or re-use of the system at a later date – or conversely the incorporating of existing enclosures or boundaries, in particular in the area of the probable barrow cemetery (SOL 045) and as the system crosses into the Blundeston Road and some of these are dpicted on the 1652 Estate Map of Somerleyton (S11).
It is not possible within the current project scope to attempt to refine the phasing of these complex and multiphase field systems. Very distinct areas representing a different phase have been recorded separately where possible, for example SOL 035.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 15thJanuary 2014.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S17) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 21 March 2023.