NHER 66317 (Monument record) - Medieval/post-medieval and undated remains

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), 3 September 2023.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Areas 4301 and 43).
The most notable responses in the larger, western field (Area 4301) are a group of adjoining north-to-south and north-east to south-west aligned linear anomalies. These are likely to represent infilled drainage/boundary ditches and correspond with an 'L'-shaped cropmark visible on aerial photographs (part of a group of boundaries and drains of probable medieval to post-medieval date recorded as NHER 35933). The position and alignment of these remains suggests there are likely to be related to a series of extant drainage channels that survive to the south-east of this site. A number of potentially related linear anomalies were also recorded in the field immediately to the east (Area 43).
A number of discrete anomalies in the vicinity of the probable ditches are also regarded as potentially archaeologically-significant.
Other, larger, more amorphous anomalies are all thought to be of natural origin, while a number of scattered dipolar spikes are likely to represent ferrous material on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 September 2023.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P2TT54; Trenches 568‐570).
The three trenches excavated at this location revealed several ditches and a number of discrete features. Two particularly substantial ditches coincided with the linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey, which were also associated with previously recorded cropmark features (part of an extensive group of probable boundaries and drains recorded as NHER 35933). Finds were limited to several medieval/post-medieval brick fragments and a small amount of animal bone, although this material is at least consistent with the expected date for these remains. A similar brick fragments was also recovered from a large possible quarry pit, along with a small assemblage of late medieval and medieval/post-medieval pottery. A sample from one of the fills of this feature contained carbonised barley and other, unidentifiable cereal grains, along with charred grass seeds and charcoal.
Other, undated features including several smaller pits, a line of three post-holes and two north-north-west to south-south-east aligned ditches.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 September 2023.