NHER 65836 (Monument record) - Post-medieval field boundaries and undated ditches and pit

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 F109).
This survey of a block at the eastern end of the site identified little of archaeological interest.
Although two linear anomalies were recorded these both correspond with former boundaries depicted on the Knapton tithe map (S1). The more sinuous of these coincides with a section of the Knapton/North Waltham parish boundary (this part of which follows the former line of an open watercourse). A number of scattered discrete dipolar anomalies concentrated in the vicinity of these former boundaries are likely to represent ferrous objects on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris). The remaining discrete anomalies are all of probable geological origin.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 October 2024.

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 F079).
The survey of the remainder of the site identified a number of linear anomalies, although the majority correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Knapton and North Walsham tithe maps (S1) (S2) – including several that coincide with the line of the parish boundary. There is one anomaly that does not correspond with any of the boundaries shown on the 19th-century maps, although its position, form and orientation suggest it was almost certainly a lost element of the same field system.
A number of scattered discrete dipolar anomalies are likely to represent ferrous objects on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris). The remaining discrete anomalies are all of probable geological origin.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 October 2024.

October 2020-June 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (F079; Trenches 240 and 405-409).
The six trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of ditches and a single pit.
The majority of the ditches recorded correspond with former field boundaries shown on 19th-century maps - most of which had also been identified by the preceding geophysical survey. The exceptions were single east-to-west and north-north-west to south-south-east aligned features exposed in the two easternmost trenches – neither of which produced any dating evidence.
The single discrete feature recorded was a large probable extraction pit. This also produced no finds.
The two westernmost trenches revealed deposits interpreted as representing the fills of a palaeochannel. A sample taken from one of these deposits was found to contain a small amount of charcoal and a single barley grain. Several flint chips of possible prehistoric date and several fragments of burnt flint were also recovered from this sample.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 October 2024.