NHER 66182 (Monument record) - Probable medieval settlement remains and other, medieval to post-medieval and undated features

May 2018. Desk-based Assessment.
Environmental Impact Assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm on the historic environment. This study incorporated the results of an initial walkover survey and the first phases of geophysical survey.
See relevant chapter of Environmental Statement and associated appendices for further detail (S1).
P. Watkins (HES), 24 March 2026.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Area 25).
This survey identified a dense cluster of linear and discrete anomalies likely to represent ditches and pit-type features. These are almost certainly related to a concentration of similar responses seen at the southern end of the site to the north, on the opposite side of Merrison's Lane (NHER 66181). The position and nature of these remains suggests they most likely represent an area of former medieval to post-medieval settlement, the southern limit of which appears to have been marked by a group of north-west to south-east aligned ditches in this field. Virtually all of the discrete anomalies identified lay to the north of these features, with the other linear anomalies in this area likely to represent ditches bounding or subdividing small plots or enclosures.
The survey of the remainder of the field identified nothing of definite archaeological interest. A number of scattered, fragmentary linear anomalies were recorded, although these are regarded as being of undermined origin, along with various discrete anomalies. One of the linear responses can though be seen to coincide with a north-west to south-east aligned former field boundaries shown on the Salle tithe map (S2).
A large area of magnetic disturbance at TG 10414 24783 almost certainly relates to a water-filled former quarry pit shown at this location on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S3).
Various other responses are all thought to be either natural in origin or associated with recent agricultural activity.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 March 2026.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P3TT14; Trenches 1128-1138).
The 11 trenches excavated at this location identified a concentration of medieval remains at the northern end of the site, with only sparse, scattered remains uncovered across the remainder of the site. Evidence for earlier activity included a small number of Neolithic/Bronze Age and undatable prehistoric worked flints and Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age and Roman pottery sherds - all of which were probably residual within later features.
The two trenches placed to target the main concentration of geophysical anomalies at the northern end of the site revealed a number of corresponding pits and ditches. There was though no evidence for remains associated with the linear anomalies that had appeared to bound this area of activity. The remains that were uncovered were all of probable high medieval date, with the relatively large pottery assemblage recovered suggesting a 13th-to 14th-century peak to activity at this location. The presence of Late Saxon and early medieval sherds suggests the site saw at least some earlier activity but late medieval to post-medieval material was notably absent. Other finds recovered from the medieval pits and ditches included fragments of fired clay (many of which were probably oven related), cockle shells, iron nails and a strip of lead. Samples taken from two of these features produced small assemblages of charred plant macrofossils including cereal grains (some identifiable as wheat and barley), legumes and grass seeds.
A large feature close to these remains was deemed to be a natural hollow of some kind. It produced medieval pottery sherds, along with pieces of fired clay similar to those recovered from the medieval features – suggesting it likely contained waste from the nearby settlement. A sample from one of its fills produced frequent charred wheat, barley and rye grains, along other carbonised remains and a large quantity of charcoal – material interpreted as a dump of late-stage processing waste. Other finds from this feature included a small number of a residual earlier pottery sherds and a fragment of post-medieval bottle glass, but the most notable discovery was a human foot bone – the presence of which is currently unexplained.
Two probable field boundary ditches were uncovered in the central part of the site, the first of which was a north-north-east to south-south-west feature that contained a medieval/post-medieval brick fragment. The second was aligned north-west to south-east and found to contain a medieval tile fragment – although this was most likely residual as this ditch appears to have coincided with a former field boundary shown on the Salle tithe map (S2).
A single Roman pottery sherd was recovered from a north-to-south aligned ditch at the southern end of the site but an adjacent north-west to south-east aligned ditch produced no dating evidence. Other remains were limited to a cluster of undated small pits or post-holes in the central part of the site.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 March 2026.