Monument record LUD 018 - Cropmarks and soilmarks of rectilinear enclosures, field boundaries and trackways of possible Roman to Post Medieval date

Multi-period linear cropmark complex N of LUD 017 (CRN 01811) noted on SAU AP 1977 (S1).

January 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
The cropmarks of rectilinear enclosures, field boundaries and trackways of uncertain date, but potentially Roman through to medieval to post medieval date, are visible on aerial photographs (S2-S6, S8). The site is centred on TM 5178 9891. Some of these cropmarks may have been previously recorded under LUD 013. It is not possible within the current project scope to attempt to refine the phasing of some of the complex areas of cropmarks and this site is likely to represent several phases of boundaries and tracks. Although field boundaries related to a seemingly earlier system of fields have been separated out and are recorded under LUD 017. Cropmarks of a similar alignment have been recorded to the north (for example LUD 008) and to the southeast (for example BLN 048).
Although none of these boundaries are depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S7) and in many cases appear to underlie them, the general orientation of them in places is the same as the surrounding medieval to post medieval boundaries – and within the western part of the site appear to continue remaining features – although it may just reflect the continuing influence of earlier features in landscape development. The fact that many of the enclosures are cut by Jay Lane would indicate some antiquity to at these some of the cropmarks and certainly the enclosures towards the western part of the site morphologically look pre-medieval in date. However those cut by the road within the eastern part of the site could feasibly be later in date and may relate to medieval common-edge settlement, as the Hodskinson’s map of 1783 (S8) indicates there was common to the north and that the road may originally have diverted from its current path slightly to the northwest.
Whilst it is feasible that this cropmark landscape represents a historic one that has been subject to a massive degree of boundary change, it seems unlikely that there has been such wholesale and consistent change over such a large area and at least a proportion of these enclosures and tracks are likely to be pre-medieval.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 28th January 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 (S9) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 21 March 2023.