NHER 7803 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Probable Bronze Age barrow, east of Blackbreck Plantation

7 April 1950. On ploughed surface of mound, probable barrow, east of Blackbreck Plantation.
Sherd of Beaker pottery found by R. R. Clarke (NCM).
Mound is twenty-two paces across, 3m (10ft) high, not ploughed when sectioned by [1] in 1919 or 1921. He thought it was natural - glacial sand. 1.2m (4ft) high when seen by R. R. Clarke (NCM), see (S1). 25m diameter, 1m high. Ploughed. Most convincing barrow.
A. J. Lawson (NAU) 7 January 1976.

Copy of photographs (S2) in file.

July 1988.
Reduced to vague swelling. Covered by potato crop.
J. Wymer (NAU).

January 2003.
On crest of hill. Now almost indistringuishable from the ridge to east. Under plough. Whole field covered in thick concentration of natural flint, some large nodules. No artefacts seen in ploughsoil (already much reduced in 1988).
H. Paterson (A&E) 24 January 2003.

June 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The assessment of the aerial photographs for this area as part of the NMP project revealed no completely convincing traces of the previously recorded barrow in the 1940s (S3-S5). Possible earthworks of a circular nature may be visible on (S5) at approximately TG 1245 1352, approximately 75m to the northwest of this location. However this does not convincingly look like earthworks relating to a barrow in 1945 (S3), where this area is covered with earthworks relating to World War Two military training, see NHER 50618 for details. Although it must be noted that no stereo pair was available for the area of the barrow and it is therefore possible that a mound may not be detectable amongst the World War Two training features.
S. Horlock (NMP), 08 June 2010.

February-March 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on possible route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
This survey recorded a sub-circular anomaly at TG 1252 1341 that extended beyond the southern limits of the area examined. This is likely to represent part of a ring-ditch associated with this barrow (although it suggests its true location is approximately 50m to the south-east of its previously mapped location.
Information from draft report. See NHER 66328 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
This survey recorded the remainder of the sub-circular anomaly uncovered in 2017, demonstrating that it was indeed part of a ring-ditch and therefore almost certain associated with this barrow.
Information from draft report. See NHER 66328 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
Two of the 28 trenches excavated at this location were positioned to target the probable ring-ditch identified by the preceding geophysical surveys. The northern part of the ring-ditch was shown to be associated with a single large feature, but the western and eastern portions investigated showed evidence for recutting. Two features adjacent to these ditches represented either pits or the termini of additional ditch segments. Both trenches recorded deposits within the interior of the ring-ditch that were likely to represent the traces of a mound.
Unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered and samples taken from two deposits produced only charcoal. It is though highly likely that these features and deposits represent the remnants of a Bronze Age round barrow.
Information from draft report. See NHER 66328 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.

The mapped location of this record has been adjusted to reflect the evidence uncovered between 2017 and 2022. Previously it was mapped as a point at TG 1249 1346.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.