NHER 66146 (Monument) - Medieval, post-medieval and undated ditches and undated pit

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), 28 May 2025.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Area 10).
This survey identified three east-to-west linear anomalies at the northern end of the site. The southernmost corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Bodham tithe map of 1840 (S2) but the two adjacent responses to the north potentially represent ditches associated with an earlier boundary. The only other response of note is a strong discrete anomaly of undetermined origin – all the other anomalies recorded being thought to be either natural in origin or the result of recent activity.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2025.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P2TT13; Trenches 184-190 and 944).
The eight trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of ditches, a pit and a probable natural feature. The ditches included three east-to-west aligned features that corresponded with the linear anomalies recorded by the preceding geophysical survey. The northernmost of these produced several medieval pottery sherds, along with a potentially intrusive modern nail, a small amount of animal bone and numerous cockle, mussel and oyster shells. A sample taken from the fill of this feature was found to contain carbonised cereal grains, legumes and weed seeds. As noted above the southernmost of the east-to-west aligned ditches coincides with a former field boundary depicted on the Bodham tithe map (S2). It was found to contain a single fragment of medieval/post-medieval tile.
The other features recorded were all undated. These included two adjacent north-north-west to south-south-east aligned ditches at the northern edge of the site and an isolated pit at its southern end.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2025.