NHER 45165 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of probable post medieval field boundaries

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a series of field boundaries of probable post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs to either side of the Lowestoft Road and to the south of Hopton Manor, Hopton on Sea (S1). The site is centred on TM 5243 9973, although this point does not correspond to an archaeological feature on the ground.

The clearest components of the site consist of a group of banked and ditched boundaries that are visible to the west of Home Farm and within the area of the current Norfolk and Suffolk county borders (S2-S3). To the north to the immediate east of Hopton Manor is another banked and ditched boundary (S2-S3), also assumed to be of medieval to post medieval date. The remainder of the field boundaries included within this site are quite fragmentary and dispersed, but follow the general alignment of the surrounding post medieval landscape. Part of one of these boundaries was excavated in 2000 and 2002 by the NAU, see NHER 16167 for details. Within the actual grounds of Hopton Manor (S4) are a number of shallow linear earthworks. These are also likely to be post medieval in date and probably relate to former boundaries, and possibly also drainage channels, within the grounds of the house.
S. Massey (NMP), 30 October 2006.

August 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site to east of Lowestoft Road and north of Longfulans Lane.
This survey identified no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the two east-north-east to west-south-west aligned linear cropmarks recorded in this field.
See report (S6) and NHER 62747 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2018.

January 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site to east of Lowestoft Road and north of Longfulans Lane.
Two of the trenches encountered a ditch that almost certainly corresponds with the east-north-east to west-south-west aligned cropmark at TM 5283 9964. Unfortunately no finds were recovered. There was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated for the similarly-aligned cropmark recorded to the north-west.
See report (S7) and NHER 62747 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2018.

August 2019. Excavation.
Final phase of archaeological mitigation prior to development at site east of Lowestoft Road and north of Longfulans Lane.
One of the three small excavation areas coincided with the north-east to south-west aligned cropmark at TM 5283 9964. Although a corresponding ditch was again identified no dating evidence was recovered.
See report (S8) and NHER 62747 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 February 2023.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S9) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.