NHER 66350 (Monument record) - Undated ditches, pit and post-hole

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), 18 August 2026.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Area 6201).
This survey identified a group of weak north-west to south-east and north-east to south-west aligned linear anomalies towards the northern end of the site that potentially represent ditches forming a small rectilinear enclosure and associated boundaries. A group of similarly-aligned but more dispersed linear anomalies at the southern end of the field may also represent infilled ditches. Various fragmentary curvilinear anomalies were also recorded, although these are all regarded as being of undetermined origin. The majority of the other anomalies recorded are thought to be either natural in origin or the result of recent agricultural activity – the one possible exception being a strong discrete anomaly at TG 1480 0700. Scattered dipolar 'spikes' 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 an extensive linear feature visible as soil marks and cropmarks on aerial photographs and thought to represent a field and/or parish boundary of probable medieval date (NHER 53694). There was also no trace of any remains associated with a fragmentary east-to-west aligned cropmarks mapped at the southern end of the site (part of a group of potentially Iron Age to Roman field boundaries recorded as NHER 53693).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 August 2026.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P2TT80; Trenches 720-727).
The eight trenches excavated at this location revealed a small number of ditches and discrete features, all of which were undated. The more notable of these features included a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch that was found to contain a human metatarsal, the source of which is unknown. This ditch lay on the line of the extensive possible boundary feature visible as soil marks and cropmarks at this location (NHER 53694), but this was possibly coincidental, given the excavated feature was not particularly substantial. A similarly aligned, much wider ditch recorded to the south can be seen to continue the line of one of the linear anomalies recorded by the preceding geophysical survey. Unfortunately finds were limited to a small number of presumably residual Neolithic flints. A trench placed to coincide with the group of linear geophysical anomalies thought to potentially represent a small enclosure revealed no associated sub-surface remains. There was also again no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a short east-to-west aligned linear cropmark mapped at the southern end of the site (part of a group of potentially Iron Age to Roman field boundaries recorded as NHER 53693).
The other features recorded included a north-north-west to south-south-east aligned ditch, a pit and a post-hole, none of which produced any dating evidence.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 August 2026.