NHER 45205 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark enclosure or ring ditch, Hopton-on-Sea

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of an oval enclosure or ring ditch, possibly the remains of prehistoric barrow, are visible on aerial photographs to the immediate east of the A12 in Hopton-on-Sea (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 5213 0168 and is located within an area of complex and overlapping enclosures and field boundaries, dating from the late prehistoric to the Roman period (NHER 43494-5). Other probable round barrow sites are located nearby (NHER 435515-6, 43552-3, 43557).

The enclosure is defined by an interrupted lemon-shaped ditch, measuring 26m by 20m.
S. Massey (NMP), 25 October 2006.

August 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development area to south-east of junction between Lowestoft Road and Links Road.
This survey identified the remains of potentially prehistoric field systems and trackways, with many of the linear anomalies corresponding with previously identified cropmark features.
Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 June 2018.

August 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of three fields to south-east of junction between Lowestoft Road and Links Road.
One of the trenches was specifically placed in order to investigate this possible ring-ditch but failed to identify any corresponding sub-surface remains. The reasons for this lack of evidence are unclear, particular as other cropmarks were found to be associated with reasonably well-preserved features.
See NHER 62793 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 June 2018.

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 (S3) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.