NHER 45163 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of farmstead and field system of possible late prehistoric date

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a farmstead and field system of unknown but possible late prehistoric or Roman date are visible to the north of Whitehouse Farm, Hopton on Sea (S1-S3). The site is centred on TG 5170 0061. This site is located within an extremely complex area of cropmarks dating from the late prehistoric onwards. This group of enclosures sit within a wider field system (NHER 43559) which may represent a separate, but related phase of enclosure, as some of the ditches are aligned the same and join with elements of the larger surrounding field system. The chronological relationship is not clear, although it is possible that the farmstead is the earliest component. Excavation is required to establish a stratigraphic and chronological sequence to this whole area of Hopton.

The main focus of the site appears to be three conjoined enclosures, centred on TG 5184 0052. The central enclosure is approximately 65m square, with a 60m square enclosure to the north. This northern enclosure has several internal subdividing ditches. The central enclosure also has a conjoined enclosure to the south, including an internal annex-like feature. The overall size of the southern enclosure appears to be approximately 95m by 85m. These enclosures may represent a farmstead or domestic focus for the site. To the west of these main enclosures is a series of attached fields. Within these larger fields were a number of smaller enclosed areas, such as at TG 5176 0050 and TG 5171 0059, and these may have represented stock enclosures.
S. Massey (NMP), 18 October 2006.

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 (S4) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.