NHER 51471 (Monument record) - ?Prehistoric pits and medieval to post-medieval linear features

The results of a fieldwalking and metal-detecting survey undertaken in March-April 2008 are now recorded under NHER 37457.
P. Watkins (HES), 31 May 2019.

September-November 2008. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Sheringham Shoals Offshore Windfarm Grid Connection cable (Trenches 119, 119a and 120).
The northernmost of the three trenches excavated at this location exposed a range of features, all of which appeared to be beneath a subsoil layer thought to represent evidence for medieval open-field agriculture. Two pits containing burnt flints were potentially prehistoric and a nearby east-to-west aligned ditch also produced a notable number of burnt flints, although a single sherd of medieval pottery was also found in this feature. A medieval pottery sherd was also recovered from a large probable palaeochannel.
All three trenches exposed north-west to south-east aligned linear features, the majority of which were probably ditches, although it is also suggested that some might have been furrows associated with medieval agriculture. One of the probable ditches appears to correspond with a former boundary marked on the late 19th-century 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map.
See reports (S1) and (S2) for further details. This work is also noted in (S3).
S. Howard (HES), 21 March 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 14 June 2019.

2009-2010. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of topsoil stripping and other groundworks associated with installation of the Sheringham Shoals Offshore Windfarm Grid Connection cable.
It appears that no additional remains were observed during this phase of work. No finds were recovered.
Final report awaited. See assessment report (S2) for further details. This work is also noted in (S3).
S. Howard (HES), 21 March 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 14 June 2019.

A combined archive comprising material from both phases of archaeological work at this site has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.361).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 June 2019.

October 2017-March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Area 55).
This survey of a triangular shaped area at the northern edge of the site revealed nothing of archaeological interest. The anomalies recorded are all thought to be either of natural origin or the result of recent agricultural activity.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 March 2026.

May 2020-January 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Area F177).
This survey of an additional strip to the west of the previously examined area also revealed little of potential archaeological significance. The only response of note is a west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomaly that corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S4).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 March 2026.

October 2020-June 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Area F177; Trench 348).
The single trench excavated at this location has placed to target the linear anomaly identified by the preceding geophysical survey. A corresponding ditch was identified, although as noted above this relates to a former field boundary shown on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S4). No finds were recovered.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 March 2026.