NHER 65945 (Monument record) - Possible prehistoric ring-ditch, potentially Early Iron Age enclosure and other, post-medieval and undated remains

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 F51).
This survey identified little of obvious archaeological interest. Although a number of roughly north-to-south and east-to-west aligned linear anomalies were recorded, the majority correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Reepham tithe map of 1846 (S1). The position and orientation of the one exception suggests it probably represents a ditch associated with an earlier element of the same post-medieval field system.
Areas of magnetic disturbance at the western edge of the field correspond with what are probably former quarry pits shown at this location on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2). Similar patches of magnetic disturbance in the central part of the area examined are also thought to potentially represent areas of former quarrying, although no corresponding features can be seen on the available historic maps.
The majority of the remaining discrete anomalies are regarded as natural in origin.
Scattered small dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface – most likely modern debris.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a pair of north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear cropmarks visible on aerial photographs of this location (part of a group of fragmentary probable field boundary ditches recorded as NHER 69642).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 December 2025.

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 (S3).
P. Watkins (HES), 24 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 F190; Trenches 550-552).
One of the three trenches excavated at this location was positioned to coincide with the two north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear cropmarks noted on aerial photographs of this location (part of a group of fragmentary probable field boundary ditches recorded as NHER 69642). No corresponding remains were encountered – potentially archaeologically-significant remains being limited to an undated pit and an undated probable post-hole. A feature partially exposed at the northern end of the easternmost trench was probably a ditch associated with one of the former field boundaries identified by the preceding geophysical survey. This also produced no dating evidence.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 December 2025.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Area 2801).
This survey saw a re-examination of the westernmost part of the area investigated in 2017/2018. The results are broadly comparable, the most notable exception being a circular anomaly centred at TG 1129 2383, which had not been identified by the preceding survey. This has a diameter of c.55m and potentially represents a ring-ditch that had been associated with Bronze Age barrow monument. Although this anomaly is weak it is noted that it is similar in appearance to other responses in the field that are likely to represent archaeological remains.
The other responses of note in the northern part of the area examined all match with those recorded by the preceding survey, including field boundaries that correspond with former field boundaries shown on the Reepham tithe map (S1) and areas of magnetic disturbance at TG 1122 2390 that relate to former quarries shown on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S2).
Adjoining west-north-west to east-south-east and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies in the southern part of the surveyed area clearly represent ditches forming the corner of an enclosure. The northern side of this probable enclosure appears to correspond with a linear cropmark noted on aerial images of this site (part of a group recorded as NHER 69642). The alignment of these ditches is similar to that of nearby extant and former field boundaries, although no corresponding features are shown on the available 19th-century maps. Two similarly-aligned west-north-west to east-south-east linear anomalies to the south do though appear to be associated with former boundaries shown on the Reepham tithe map (S1).
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 (P2TT35; Trenches 399-406).
The eight trenches excavated at this location targeted the southernmost part of the site, which had not been investigated during the earlier work on the route of the Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas onshore cable (see above). It should also be noted that the possible ring-ditch identified by the preceding geophysical survey was not examined (presumably as it would be avoided by future groundworks).
Three trenches placed to investigate the probable enclosure ditch identified by the geophysical survey all revealed reasonably substantial corresponding features. Notably, two of the excavated slots produced Early Iron Age pottery, suggesting this enclosure was potentially of the same age as a similarly-aligned rectilinear enclosure uncovered approximately 600m to the north-west (see NHER 66184). Other finds recovered from the enclosure ditch included an undiagnostic Late Prehistoric pottery sherd, a single Roman pottery sherd, a small number of Neolithic/Bronze Age flint flakes, burnt flints and a fragment of fired clay. A sample from one of the ditch fills was found to contain only small amounts of charcoal and flint debitage.
A discrete geophysical anomaly to the north of the enclosure was found to correspond with a large possible extraction pit. Finds recorded from this feature included an Early Neolithic flint leaf arrowhead and small amounts of Early Iron Age and medieval pottery, while a sample from its fill also produced only charcoal and flint debitage.
The four trenches excavated to the south of the enclosure recorded a number of ditches, including two north-west to south-east aligned features in the south-east corner of the site that both contained post-medieval pottery. A north-north-east to south-south-west aligned feature produced no finds but was also of relatively recent date as it can be seen to corresponds with another of the former field boundaries shown on the Reepham tithe map (S1).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 March 2026.