NHER 65683 (Monument record) - Undated square enclosure and potentially related field boundaries and other, undated and post-medieval ditches

October 2017-March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (F165).
This survey identified a range of linear anomalies, a number of which correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Happisburgh tithe map (S1). These include north-to-south aligned anomalies at TG 3861 3060, TG 3879 3050 and TG 3897 3034, an east-north-east to west-south-west anomaly at TG 3867 3052 and a north-north-west to south-south-east aligned anomaly at TG 3848 3052. Other linear anomalies were potentially broadly contemporary with these boundaries but a number of north-to-south and east-to-west aligned linear responses do though potentially represent elements of an earlier field system. The most notable of these are a group immediately to the east of the Happisburgh Lighthouse that appear to form a square enclosure bisected by a central east-to-west aligned partition. A cluster of potentially archaeologically-significant discrete anomalies were also recorded in the south-west corner of this enclosure. Similarly-aligned probable ditches to the south-east may represent ditches associated with the same phase of activity, particularly as at least two intersect with the late post-medieval field boundaries in ways that suggest they are unlikely to have been contemporary. A number of these potentially earlier ditches (including elements of the main probable enclosure) coincide with previously identified linear cropmarks – all of which are part of a group of undated ditches, trackways, pits and other features recorded as NHER 16015.
Although cropmarks likely to be associated with a former medieval to post-medieval road have also been recorded at this location (NHER 38773) no corresponding geophysical anomalies were identified. A north-west to south-east aligned linear anomaly at TG 3848 3054 does though coincide with part of a group of linear cropmarks thought to potentially represent a former continuation of this road (NHER 38772).
A large discrete area of magnetic disturbance at TG 3879 3054 presumably relates to the construction and use of a World War Two pillbox at this location (NHER 15918). There was though no evidence for sub-surface features associated with a square cropmark at TG 3899 3027 that had been thought to potentially represent the remnants of a building of Roman, medieval or post-medieval date (NHER 38778).
There was also no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with fragmentary north-east to south-west aligned linear cropmarks mapped in the easternmost part of the site (outlying elements of an extensive group of undated remains recorded as NHER 36495).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2025.

October 2020-June 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (F007 and F011; Trenches 1-3, 5 and 17).
Two of the five trenches excavated at this location were placed to coincide with the line of the former medieval to post-medieval road that is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (NHER 38773) but which had not been identified by the preceding geophysical survey. There was again no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains, with no corresponding features identified. The square cropmark at TG 3899 3027 thought to potentially represent the remains of a building (NHER 38778) was also shown to have no associated remains, which was again consistent with the results of the geophysical survey. There was also no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a north-east to south-west aligned cropmark at TG 3885 3035 (part of the group recorded as NHER 36495). A north-east to south-west aligned ditch at TG 3890 3029 was though potentially related to a group of similarly-aligned cropmarks (part of the group of undated remains recorded as NHER 16015).
It should be noted that the large square enclosure recorded by the preceding geophysical survey in the westernmost part of the site now falls outside the footprint of the scheme and so was not subject to further archaeological investigation.
The only other features recorded were three ditches - one aligned north-north-east to south-south-west and two north-to-south. None produced any dating evidence, although one of the latter can be seen to coincide with a former field boundary shown on the Happisburgh tithe map (S1).
Although it is recorded that a scrap of post-Roman ceramic building material was recovered at this location the exact context of this find is unclear at present.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2025.