Monument record STN 168 - Ridges, of unknown but possible post medieval date

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Summary

Ridges reminiscent of ridge and furrow are visible as earthworks on imagery from a lidar survey flown in 2015. Their date is uncertain, but they appear to pre-date boundaries and tracks shown on modern and historical Ordnance Survey maps. They may be the vestiges of former cultivation of the heathland, either for arable agriculture or to grow forage crops for rabbits. Alternatively, they could be ridges for an earlier plantation. It both cases, a post medieval date seems likely.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 8320 8685 (196m by 217m)
Map sheet TL88NW
Civil Parish SANTON DOWNHAM, FOREST HEATH, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (6)

Full Description

December 2017. 'Brecks from Above' and Breckland National Mapping Programme.
Ridges reminiscent of ridge and furrow are visible as earthworks on imagery from a lidar survey flown in 2015 (S1). Their date is uncertain, but they appear to pre-date boundaries and tracks shown on modern and historical Ordnance Survey maps (such as S2). They may be the vestiges of former cultivation of the heathland, either for arable agriculture or to grow forage crops for rabbits. Alternatively, they could be ridges for an earlier plantation. It both cases, a post medieval date seems likely. The ridges share their orientation with some of the undated, probably post medieval tracks and boundaries mapped across the same area (SHER STN 171), and with the possible warren boundary to their south (SHER STN 188). Other areas of ridging have been identified nearby (SHER STN 169, STN 170, STN 189).
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 11th December 2017.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <S1> LIDAR Airborne Survey: LIDAR airborne survey. LIDAR Santon Forest Research 0.5m DTM 15-JUL-2015 (BNG Project, FC England, Fugro Geospatial).
  • <S2> Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Map. Ordnance Survey 1st edition 6 inch map.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Mar 4 2019 11:14AM

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