Land East of Cromer Road, Hunstanton, Norfolk

n May 2015 Oxford Archaeology East (OA East) were commissioned by Pigeon Investment Management Ltd to undertake a desk-based assessment (DBA) in advance of a possible planning application. This DBA report assesses site F2.2, which comprises an agricultural field adjacent and to the east of the Cromer Road (A149) and to the south of Old Hunstanton.
A search of the Norfolk Heritage Environmental Record (NHER) was undertaken and cartographic and historical sources at the Norfolk Record Office were also consulted. The NHER search includes 10 earlier prehistoric records identified at a distance of between c.100 to 500m from the site, in addition to five Iron Age/Roman records located some 100m-500m away. No records relating to Anglo-Saxon activity were identified and just three medieval records are present, between 200m and 400m away. The bulk of the NHER material consists of more than 60 post-medieval and modern records. The only archaeological feature recorded within the site comprises a minor routeway that also appears as a cropmark and is shown on the 1615 map of Hunstanton.
Map evidence shows that the site was part of the medieval (and early post-medieval) strip fields of Hunstanton before it was enclosed in the late 18th century. Analysis of the maps also demonstrates that the field boundaries of the site have not changed in the last 200 years.
A geophysical survey undertaken in April 2014 did not identify any anomalies of probable archaeological origin but did map the periglacial natural features in addition to a modern service pipe and a single linear anomaly (Richardson 2014).
This DBA has assessed that there is low potential for archaeological remains of all periods within the site, apart from for the earlier prehistoric period (and the later routeway mentioned above). There is medium potential for remains of prehistoric date, based on the presence of four areas of Neolithic and Bronze Age flintworking that have been recorded nearby (between 100-300m away).