NHER 65838 (Monument record) - Potentially medieval to 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 F108).
This survey identified a series of predominantly west-north-west to east-south-east or north-north-east to south-south-west linear anomalies, the majority of which correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the North Walsham tithe map (S1). The exceptions include a group of similarly-aligned anomalies at the northern edge of the site that appear to define a pair of smaller fields or enclosures adjacent to Little London Road. These presumably predate the field system shown on the 19th century maps.
A cluster of discrete anomalies adjacent to the road are regarded as being of undetermined origin and may therefore represent archaeological-significant remains.
A number of scattered discrete dipolar anomalies are likely to represent ferrous objects on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris). The remaining discrete anomalies are all of probable geological origin.
There was only limited correspondence between the results of this study and those of an earlier assessment of aerial imagery. Although the latter had identified a number of linear cropmarks at this location (recorded as NHER 36504) only those associated with late post-medieval field boundaries had corresponding geophysical anomalies. There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with what appeared to be elements of an earlier rectilinear enclosure on a markedly different alignment to those of the post-medieval boundaries.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 October 2024.

October 2020-June 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Area F080; Trenches 68 and 69).
The two trenches excavated at this location were both positioned to target the linear geophysical anomalies that potentially represented elements of fields or enclosures predating the late post-medieval field system. However, neither anomaly was found to be associated with sub-surface remains. There was also no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with a short north-west to south-east aligned cropmark that coincided with one of the trenches. The only feature uncovered was a ditch that corresponded with a former field boundary depicted on the North Walsham tithe map (S1). A single post-medieval pottery sherd was recovered from this ditch.
No unstratified finds were recovered.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 October 2024.

October 2024. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site (Field 1).
This survey saw the examination of the entire field, with the most significant results coming in the south-west corner of the site, which had not been examined during the 2017/2018 survey. A notable concentration of linear anomalies revealed at this location are likely to represent infilled ditches associated with a number of rectilinear enclosures – elements of which had previously been noted as cropmarks on aerial photographs (see NHER 36504). Various discrete anomalies at this location may represent pit-type features and the enclosures also coincide with an area of increased magnetic response. These anomalies may well represent remains associated with some form of medieval to post-medieval settlement. The overlapping nature of the linear anomalies suggests that multiple phases of activity are potentially represented – with the more sinuous responses possibly representing the earliest elements and straighter west-north-west to east-south-east and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditches potentially forming the northern and east sides of a later enclosure. The alignment of this more regular enclosure is similar to that of a series of interconnected, much more extensive linear anomalies recorded across the remainder of the field. A number of these probable ditches correspond with former field boundaries shown on the North Walsham tithe map (S1), while the majority of the other features seem likely to represent lost elements of the same post-medieval field system or a related precursor. An extensive west-north-west to east-south-east aligned ditch crossing the entirely site appears to have been associated with a significant boundary, with a much greater degree of sub-division evident to the north of its line. This is particularly the case in the north-east part of the site, where various probable ditches appear to have defined a series of small plots or paddocks. These coincide with with another concentration of potentially archaeologically-significant discrete anomalies, one cluster of which appear to be associted with a number of more irregular linear anomalies and another area of increased magnetic response. It is possible that the various responses in this part of the site represent remains associated with at least one former dwelling – possibly a farm or dwelling siting on the edge of a finger of common land shown extending into this area on Faden’s map of 1797 (S2).
Other responses of potential archaeological interest include weakly positive rectilinear anomalies at TG 28903 31502 and TG 28843 31444 and a large discrete anomaly at TG 29017 31455 that potentially represents an infilled extraction pit or pond. A broad east-to-west aligned weakly negative anomaly at the southern edge of the site is parallel with one of the probable post-medieval field boundaries and potentially marks the line of a former trackway.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 June 2026.