NHER 65943 (Monument record) - Probable area of medieval roadside settlement and other medieval, 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 54).
This survey identified a dense band of linear and discrete anomalies at the eastern edge of the site, adjacent to the lane leading to Park Farm. A series of interlinked enclosures appear to be represented, with smaller examples adjacent to the road and larger enclosures or fields deiminated to the west. A probable field boundary ditch extends westwards from the corner of one of the larger enclosures. It is possible that at least some of the discrete anomalies identified in the vicinity of the road represent pit-type features, while several broad, high-magnitude anomalies in this area potentially represent areas of burning.
Adjoining north-north-east to south-south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies identified in the western half of the site potentially represent field boundaries associated with a different phase of activity. This is also the case with several north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies at the southern edge of the site. A north-to-south aligned linear anomaly does though clearly corresponds with a former field boundary shown on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S1).
Two large areas of magnetic disturbance partially revealed at the northern edge of the site potentially represent former quarries.
Scattered dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface, most likely modern debris. The other anomalies recorded are all thought to be either of natural origin or the result of recent agricultural activity.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 March 2026.

May 2020-January 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Area F181).
This survey of a small triangular shaped area adjacent to the previously examined land recorded nothing of potential archaeological interest.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 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 F181; Trenches 140-146).
The majority of the seven trenches excavated at this location were placed to investigate the concentration of linear and discrete geophysical anomalies recorded at the eastern edge of the site. These trenches revealed a range of corresponding pits and ditches, including ditches likely to have formed three sides of one of the larger enclosures. Medieval pottery was recovered from the majority of these features, confirming these remains were likely associated with a medieval settlement. Fragments of animal bone were also recovered from several features and samples from selected deposits produced small amounts of possible iron-working debris. Although the excavated features appear to have been predominantly high medieval date it is notable that more than half of the pottery assemblage recovered consists of early medieval ware – suggesting the site may have been occupied from quite early in the period.
A possible occupation deposit or subsoil exposed in one of the easternmost trenches was found to contain medieval pottery, along with a medieval/post-medieval brick fragment, iron nails and a lead floral mount of probable 19th- to 20th-century date.
Small amounts of medieval pottery were also recovered from two outlying ditches and a pit to the west of the main group, all of which had also been identified by the geophysical survey.
The limited evidence for earlier activity included a small assemblage of prehistoric worked flints, all of which were residual in later features. A number of Roman pottery sherds were also recovered, although these were also mostly residual. The one possible exception was a sherd found in an otherwise undated north-west to south-east aligned ditch close to the medieval enclosure. A single Late Saxon pottery sherd was also recovered from an unstratified context.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 March 2026.