Land at Pinelands Industrial Estate, Horsford, Norfolk. Desk-Based Assessment

Study of cartographic sources has indicated that the subject site was located on the fringe of the village in an area that appears to have been largely open heath and common land. At the time of the Enclosure Award in 1802 it was described as copyhold of the manor of Horsford and was owned by Sir Philip Stephens, an associate of Captain James Cook. By 1841 the corner plot where the study area is located had been sub-divided and the Tithe apportionment records that it was heath allotment. During the latter part of the 19th century huge swathes of plantation were established in this part of the parish and covered much of the subject area, perhaps until the site was developed in the post-war period. No known above ground heritage assets have been identified within the subject site and there are no known archaeological remains. However, there is potential for the survival of prehistoric features, notably Bronze Age barrows, given the proximity of a known barrow cemetery to the north-east of the site in Horsford Woods. This might be increased by the fact that two of the barrows identified in the cemetery respect the 35m-contour, which also passes through the subject site. Other finds of note include an undated metalworking site to the west of the study area. Should archaeological features be present within the study area these would be most impacted by any below ground works necessary as part of the redevelopment of the site. The greatest impact is likely to be caused by demolition and removal of existing structures and hard standing, landscaping and tree-planting, construction of new building foundations, service trenches, access roads and garage footings.