HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT

DOCKING FARM SOLAR PROJECT ,

PREPARED BY LANPRO SERVICES ON BEHALF OF DOCKING FARM SOLAR Ltd.

September 2020

Lanpro Services Ltd. Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment: Docking Farm Solar Project, Broadland, Norfolk

Project Reference: 2050H/01

Document Prepared by: Mitchell Pollington MCIfA and Paul Gajos MCIffA

Document Reviewed by: Paul Gajos MCIfA

Revision Reason for Update Document Updated

Contents

List of Figures ...... ii Non-Technical Summary ...... iii 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 2 LEGISLATION, POLICY AND GUIDANCE ...... 1 3 METHODOLOGY ...... 6 4 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION ...... 8 5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...... 8 6 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE ...... 13 7 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...... 15 8 CONCLUSIONS ...... 16 9 REFERENCES ...... 17

Figures Plates Appendix 1: Gazetteer of heritage assets Appendix 2: Proposed Layout

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Lanpro Services Ltd. Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment: Docking Farm Solar Project, Broadland, Norfolk List of Figures

Figure 1. The study site and search area with the location of HER and NHLE records

Figure 2. Extract from Faden’s map of Norfolk of 1797

Figure 3. Extract from the Cawston tithe map of 1840

Figure 4. Extract from the Ordnance Survey 25 inch map of 1886

Figure 5. Extract from the Ordnance Survey 25 inch map of 1906

Figure 6. Extract from the Ordnance Survey 6 inch map of 1957

Figure 7. Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 scale map of 1975

Figure 8. Aerial photograph of the study site (Google Earth 2019)

List of Plates

Plate 1. Looking east across southern part of study site

Plate 2. Looking north-west along western edge of study site

Plate 3. Looking north from south-western edge of study site

Plate 4. Looking south (towards Bluestone Lodge) from northern end of southern field

Plate 5. Looking south from northern part of study site

Plate 6. Looking south from northern edge of study site

Plate 7. Looking south across north-eastern field

Plate 8. Looking towards southern corner of study site adjacent Bluestone Lodge

Plate 9. Bluestone Lodge from southern corner of study site

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Non-Technical Summary

Lanpro was commissioned by Docking Farm Solar Ltd. to produce a historic environment desk-based assessment (HEDBA) to inform a planning application for a proposed solar farm, on land to the south of the former RAF Oulton, in the Broadland district of Norfolk (centred at TG 1445 2631). The study site comprises four fields under arable cultivation, covering approximately 35.67ha.

The HEDBA addresses the information requirements set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and provides the proportionate response sought by the NPPF. It draws together the available archaeological, historical, topographic and land-use information in order to clarify the significance and archaeological potential of the study site.

The assessment has established that there are no designated heritage assets in the study site and that the proposed development will have no impact upon any designated heritage assets in the surrounding area.

The available archaeological records, combined with the results of the analysis of historical mapping and previous archaeological investigations, suggest that there is some limited potential for the survival of remains dating to the early prehistoric, Iron Age and Roman periods within the study site.

It is possible that buried remains relating to medieval or post-medieval agriculture could survive, such as ploughing or field boundaries, but these would be of negligible significance.

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Lanpro Services Ltd. Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment: Docking Farm Solar Project, Broadland, Norfolk

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 This archaeological desk-based assessment of land at the proposed Docking Farm Solar Project, to the south of the former RAF Oulton, in the Broadland district of Norfolk, has been prepared by Lanpro Services Limited on behalf of Docking Farm Solar Ltd. This assessment has been undertaken to inform a planning application for a proposed solar farm development within the study site.

1.2 This document provides an assessment of the potential for the survival of archaeological remains within the study site and assesses the potential impacts that the proposed development could have on these and other heritage assets in the vicinity.

1.3 The assessment has been undertaken to meet the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF; Section 16: ‘Conserving and enhancing the historic environment’; revised June 2019) and is in line with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) guidelines Standard and guidance for historic environment desk-based assessment (CIfA 2014).

2 LEGISLATION, POLICY AND GUIDANCE

2.1 In considering any planning application for development, the local planning authority will be guided by current legislation, the policy framework set by government planning policy, by current Local Plan policy and by other material considerations.

Current Legislation

2.2 The applicable legislative framework is summarised as follows:

• Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (AMAAA) 1979;

• Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (P(LBCA)) Act 1990

2.3 The AMAAA largely relates to Scheduled Monuments (SMs) and designated archaeological areas, detailing in particular what can and cannot be undertaken on archaeological grounds.

2.4 The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (the 1990 Act) provides for the protection of listed buildings and Conservation Areas and is largely expressed in the planning process through policies in regional and local planning guidance, as outlined below. This act is the primary legislative instrument addressing the treatment of listed buildings and Conservation Areas through the planning process.

2.5 Section 66 of the 1990 Act states that ‘...in considering whether to grant planning permission for development which affects a listed building or its setting, the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses’.

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2.6 Section 72 then adds that ‘...with respect to any buildings or other land in a Conservation Area, of any powers under any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2), special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area’.

2.7 As far as Section 72 is concerned, it has previously been established by the Courts that development which does not detract from the character or appearance of a Conservation Area is deemed to be in accordance with the legislation. In other words, there is no statutory requirement to actively ‘enhance’.

National Planning Policy Framework

2.8 Section 16 of the NPPF (revised June 2019), entitled Conserving and enhancing the historic environment provides guidance for planning authorities, property owners, developers and others on the conservation and investigation of heritage assets.

2.9 Overall, the objectives of Section 16 of the NPPF can be summarised as seeking the:

• Delivery of sustainable development • Understanding the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits brought by the conservation of the historic environment, and • Conservation of 's heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance

2.10 Section 16 of the NPPF recognises that intelligently managed change may sometimes be necessary if heritage assets are to be maintained for the long term. Paragraph 189 states that planning decisions should be based on the significance of the heritage asset, and that the level of detail supplied by an applicant should be proportionate to the importance of the asset and should be no more than sufficient to review the potential impact of the proposal upon the significance of that asset.

2.11 A Heritage Asset is defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF as: ‘A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. It includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).’

2.12 Annex 2 also defines ‘Archaeological Interest’ as a heritage asset which holds or potentially could hold, evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point. Heritage Assets with archaeological interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them.

2.13 A Designated Heritage Asset comprises a World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Park and Garden, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area.

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2.14 Significance is defined as: ‘The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. The interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting. For World Heritage Sites, the cultural value described within each site’s Statement of Outstanding Universal Value forms part of its significance.’

2.15 In short, government policy provides a framework which: • Protects nationally important designated Heritage Assets (which include World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Protected Wreck Sites, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields or Conservation Areas) • Protects the settings of such designations • In appropriate circumstances seeks adequate information (from desk based assessment and field evaluation where necessary) to enable informed decisions • Provides for the excavation and investigation of sites not significant enough to merit in situ preservation

Planning Practice Guidance

2.16 The Planning Practice Guidance is a web-based resource which is to be used in conjunction with the NPPF. It is aimed at planning professionals and prescribes best practice within the planning sector. The relevant section is entitled ‘Conserving and enhancing the historic environment’. The guidance given in this section sets out the best practice to applying government policy in the NPPF.

Local Planning Policy

2.17 The Adopted Local Plan for Broadland includes the following documents:

• Joint Core Strategy DPD (Broadland, and ) adopted 2011, amendments adopted January 2014 • Development Management DPD adopted August 2015 • Site Allocations DPD adopted May 2016 • Growth Triangle Area Action Plan adopted July 2016 • Neighbourhood Plan

2.18 The joint core strategy contains no specific policies relating to heritage or archaeology referring to national guidance and local planning authorities for statutory protection. However, reference is made as part of other policies with only the relevant parts of the policy being reproduced below:

Policy 1: Addressing climate change and protecting environmental assets The built environment, heritage assets, and the wider historic environment will be conserved and enhanced through the protection of buildings and structures which contribute to their surroundings, the protection of their settings, the encouragement of high-quality maintenance and repair and the enhancement of public spaces.

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Policy 5: Area Wide Policies The area has a wealth of environmental assets ranging from international and national status, to those of local importance. These must be safeguarded and enhanced for the benefit of current and future generations. These assets include biodiversity (wildlife and habitats), built heritage and the wider historic environment, ancient monuments and archaeological assets, geodiversity (geological features), landscape and historic landscape character; as well as more general aspects such as the countryside and rural character.

2.19 The Broadland District Council’s Development Management Development Plan Document (DPD) outlines the council’s planning policies in relation to the historic environment under the section on ‘Environmental Assets’ (paragraphs 3.4) reproduced below:

The National Planning Policy Framework and Joint Core Strategy place considerable emphasis on the need to safeguard and enhance the environmental assets of the district for the benefit of current and future generations. These assets include…built heritage and the wider historic environment (paragraphs 126-141 of the NPPF) e.g. listed buildings, ancient monuments and archaeological assets, geodiversity (geological features), landscape and historic landscape character; as well as more general aspects such as the countryside and rural character, the setting of conservation areas and the Broads.

Professional Guidance 2.20 The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-based Assessment (2014) provides guidelines and recommendations for best practice in undertaking archaeological desk-based research and assessment.

2.21 The Historic England publication Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 2: Managing Significance in Decision Taking in the Historic Environment (2015) outlines a seven-stage process for the assembly and analysis of relevant information relating to heritage assets potentially affected by a proposed development:

• Understand the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits brought by the conservation of the historic environment; • Understand the significance of the affected assets; • Understand the impact of the proposal on that significance; • Avoid, minimise and mitigate impact in a way that meets the objectives of the NPPF; • Look for opportunities to better reveal or enhance significance; • Justify any harmful impacts in terms of the sustainable development objective of conserving significance and the need for change; and • Offset negative impacts on aspects of significance by enhancing others through recording, disseminating and archiving archaeological and historical interest of the important elements of the heritage assets affected.

2.22 In order to understand the nature, extent and level of significance the note advocates considering the four types of heritage value an asset may hold, as identified in Conservation

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Principles (English Heritage 2008): aesthetic, communal, historic and evidential. Significance results from a combination of any, some or all of the values.

2.23 The Historic England publication Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 3 (Second Edition): The Setting of Heritage Assets (2017) recognises that whilst setting is not a heritage asset, elements of a setting ‘may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral’ (para. 4). Setting is described as being distinct to curtilage, character and context. This guidance also notes that the contribution of setting to the significance of a heritage asset is often expressed by reference to views, although the importance of setting lies in what it contributes to the significance of the heritage asset, and this can be influenced by a number of other factors.

2.24 In order to assess the contribution made by setting to the significance of a heritage asset, and the implications of new developments, the guidance recommends that a systematic and staged ‘5-step process’ to assessment should be adopted, namely:

i) identify which heritage assets and their settings are affected; ii) assess the degree to which these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset(s) or allow significance to be appreciated; iii) assess the effects of the proposed development, whether beneficial or harmful, on that significance or on the ability to appreciate it; iv) explore the way to maximise enhancement and avoid or minimise harm; v) make and document the decision and monitor outcomes.

2.25 This report therefore follows steps (i) and (ii) to identify the local heritage assets and their settings and then makes an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed development having regard to steps (iii) and (iv).

2.26 The Historic England advice note, Statement of Heritage Significance: Analysing Significance in Heritage Assets. Historic England Advice Note 12 (2019), brings together all of the above guidance in an analysis of an appropriate approach for applicants for heritage and other consents in providing an understanding of the significance of heritage assets in line with NPPF. This is aimed at providing assistance for owners, applicants, local planning authorities, planning and other consultants in the implementation of not only the guidance but also historic environment legislation and policy. It emphasises the level of detail required in support of both planning and listed building consent applications, which should be no more than is necessary, i.e. proportionate to the significance of the heritage asset affected, to reach an informed decision.

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3 METHODOLOGY

Information Sources 3.1 A gazetteer of all records held on the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (HER) and the Historic England National Heritage List for England (NHLE) for within a 1km search area is provided in Appendix 1, and their locations marked on a plan in Figure 1.

3.2 The following sources of information have been consulted in order to meet the requirements of the assessment, and are in line with the guidelines laid down by the CIfA (2014).

Archaeological Records 3.3 Information on heritage assets and archaeological investigations for within the search area was obtained from the HER and the NHLE.

Historical Documentary and Cartographic Sources 3.4 On-line repositories were consulted for historical maps, plans and relevant documentary sources, including published and unpublished documentary sources, in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the CIfA (2014).

3.5 The holdings at the Record Office for Norfolk could not be consulted due to its temporary closure during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Designated Heritage Assets 3.6 Information on designated heritage assets was obtained from the HER and the NHLE.

Published and Unpublished Documentary Sources 3.7 A range of published and unpublished material has been consulted, including the regional archaeological research framework Research and Archaeology Revisited: a revised framework for the (Medlycott 2011) and sources on the wider archaeological and historical background.

Site Visit 3.8 A site visit was undertaken on the 7th July 2020 to provide a further assessment of the character of the site and to appraise the potential impact of the proposed development on any identified archaeological assets and designated heritage assets in the wider area (see Plates 1 to12).

Assessment Criteria

Setting 3.9 The NPPF defines the setting of a heritage asset as: ‘The surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral’

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3.10 Historic England’s Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 3: The Setting of Heritage Assets Setting (2017) was used to inform the methodology for this assessment which follows steps i) to iv) outlined in the guidance.

Significance 3.11 Paragraph 189 of the NPPF (2019) states that planning decisions should be based on the significance of the heritage asset, and that the level of detail supplied by an applicant should be proportionate to the importance of the asset and should be no more than sufficient to review the potential impact of the proposal upon the significance of that asset.

3.12 It is recognised that not all parts of a heritage asset will necessarily be of equal significance. In some cases, certain elements could accommodate change without affecting the significance of the asset. Change is only considered harmful if it erodes an asset’s significance. Understanding the significance of any heritage assets affected and any contribution made by their setting (paragraph 189, NPPF 2019) is therefore fundamental to understanding the scope for and acceptability of change.

3.13 Assessment of significance has been undertaken in accordance with the Historic England’s Statements of Heritage Significance. Analysing Significance in Heritage Assets (2019).

Definition of Harm 3.14 Current guidance by Historic England is that ‘change’ does not equate to ‘harm’. The NPPF and its accompanying PPG effectively distinguish between two degrees of harm to heritage assets – substantial and less than substantial. Paragraph 195 of the NPPF states that:

‘Where a proposed development will lead to substantial harm to (or total loss of significance of) a designated heritage asset, local planning authorities should refuse consent, unless it can be demonstrated that the substantial harm or total loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss...’

3.15 Paragraph 196 of the NPPF states that:

‘Where a development proposal would lead to less than substantial harm to the significance of a designated heritage asset, this harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposals...’

3.16 In determining the effects of the Proposed Scheme this heritage statement is cognisant of case law. Including the below:

• Flag Station, Mansel Lacy, Herefordshire [22/09/2015] Case Number EWHC 2688

3.17 This ruling has emphasised the primacy of the 1990 Planning Act – and the fact that it is up to the decision makers in the planning system to ‘have special regard to the desirability of preserving the [listed] building or its setting’. As stated by HH Judge David Cooke in a judgment of 22 September 2015 regarding the impact on the setting of a listed building:

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‘It is still plainly the case that it is for the decision taker to assess the nature and degree of harm caused, and in the case of harm to setting rather than directly to a listed building itself, the degree to which the impact on the setting affects the reasons why it is listed.’

• PALMER Appellant and Herefordshire Council and ANR [04/11/16] Case No: C1/2015/3383

3.18 The judgment was agreed by Lord Justice Lewison at the Court of Appeal, who stated that:

‘It is also clear as a matter both of law and planning policy that harm (if it exists) is to be measured against both the scale of the harm and the significance of the heritage asset. Although the statutory duty requires special regard to be paid to the desirability of not harming the setting of a listed building, that cannot mean that any harm, however minor, would necessarily require planning permission to be refused.

4 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

4.1 The study site comprises approximately 35.67ha of land to the south of the former RAF Oulton, around 800m to the south-west of the village of Oulton Street, in the Broadland district of Norfolk (centred at TG 1445 2631; Figure 1).

4.2 The study site comprises three fields under arable cultivation. These are bounded to the south-west by Holt Road (B1149), to the south-east and east by Oulton Street, to the north- east by a house and gardens, to the north by a band of woodland which follows the route of a former railway line, and to the north-west by arable fields and woodland. A straight tree- lined track also defines the north-western side of the study site,. The study site undulates gradually, but is generally level, and situated at a height of around 45m above Ordnance Datum (aOD).

4.3 The bedrock geology within the study site is recorded as comprising sand and gravel of the Crag Formation, overlain by superficial deposits of Briton’s Lane sand and gravel (BGS 2020).

5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Introduction 5.1 This section reviews existing archaeological evidence for the study site and the archaeological and historical background of the surrounding area, based on a consideration of evidence in the HER and the NHLE.

5.2 It is not the purpose of this document to create a detailed archaeological or historical narrative of the area, but to provide an assessment of the study site’s historical development and archaeological potential in accordance with the NPPF.

Designated Heritage Assets 5.3 The study site contains no designated heritage assets.

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5.4 There is one Listed Building within the search area, the Grade II Listed 16th century Beerhouse Farm (NHLE 1250060), situated around 500m to the south-west of the study site. This heritage asset is not inter-visible with the study site due to the intervening presence of the woodland in Bluestone Plantation.

5.5 The search area includes parts of two Conservation Areas defined by Broadland District Council. The south-eastern boundary of the Heydon/Salle Conservation Area runs c.10m to the west of the study site, along the western side of the B1149, and continues westward including Bluestone Plantation and Black Bridge Wood. To the north-east, the south-western edge of the Conservation Area falls within the north-eastern edge of the search area, about 750m from the study site at its closest point.

5.6 The south-eastern edge of the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden (RPG) at Heydon Hall (NHLE 1000187), comprising a strip of woodland known as Carman’s Belt, falls within the western side of the search area, around 840m from the study site at its closest point

5.7 There are no other designated heritage assets (i.e. Scheduled Monuments, Registered Battlefields or World Heritage Sites) within the search area.

5.8 The locations of all designated heritage assets within the search area are shown on Figure 1.

5.9 With regards to Beerhouse Farmhouse, Heydon Hall RPG and the Blickling Conservation Area there is no intervisibility with the study site due to topography, distance and well established hedgerows/woodland, nor are there any historic associations between these assets and the study site that would contribute to their significance. Therefore, following step 1 of the Historic England setting guidance, these assets have been scoped out of further assessment. However, due to the close proximity of the Heydon/Salle Conservation Area to the study site that designated heritage asset requires further assessment to identify whether or not it is sensitive to development proposals.

Non-designated Heritage Assets

5.10 The study site contains eight records held on the HER. Seven of these relate to chance finds of prehistoric flint implements, ranging in possible date from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic (MNF 7336; 7338; 7355; 11395, 11396, 20473 and 20474). A quantity of undated iron slag is also recorded as having been ploughed up on the western side of the study site in 1957 (MNF 7348).

5.11 The HER contains 52 ‘monument’ records and three ‘event’ records for within the search area, including the Grade II Listed Beerhouse Farmhouse and the Registered Park and Gardens of Heydon Hall which are also recorded on the NHLE.

5.12 Details of all HER records are listed in a gazetteer in Appendix 1 and their positions marked on Figure 1.

5.13 The HER records relating to archaeological remains, buildings, finds or investigations within the search area breakdown by period as follows. Some records cover more than one period:-

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Period Within Study Site Within Search Area

Prehistoric 7 26

Roman 0 5

Early medieval 0 0

Medieval 0 5

Post-medieval/19th century 0 17

Modern 0 3

Undated / None 1 10

Early Prehistoric Period (c. 9500 BC – c. 800 BC)

5.14 A number of prehistoric flint implements have been found during ploughing in the study site since the 1960s. The earliest of these finds appear to date to the Palaeolithic, with part of a possible handaxe found during harvesting in 1967 on the western side of the study site (MNF 7336), while in 1976 a handaxe was discovered during ploughing close to the study site’s eastern edge (MNF 11395). A Mesolithic flaked axehead had also been found just to the north of this in the same field in 1975 (MNF 7355). A number of Neolithic flint tools have also been found across the study site, including adzes (MNF 7336; 20474), axeheads (MNF 7338; 20473) and a scraper (MNF 11396).

5.15 Mesolithic and Neolithic flint finds have also been discovered in the plough soil across the wider search area (MNF 7319; 7320; 7332; 7333; 7341; 7342; 7343; 7352; 7353; 15186; 20475; 21154; 23969; 64888).

5.16 Evidence for Bronze Age activity in the search area is more limited. A possible ring ditch was identified on an aerial photograph taken in 1992, around 700m to the west of the study site, close to Ollands Farm (MNF 32246), but this has not been investigated. A Bronze Age stone macehead was found in a field in 1962 (MNF 7346), 525m to the south of the study site, and a copper alloy palstave was uncovered during potato harvesting over 900m to the study site’s east in 1974 (MNF 7388). Metal detecting across fields on the southern side of the search area in 1993, around 860m to the south of the study site, also recovered a flanged axe of a Bronze Age date (MNF 29841).

5.17 The evidence for early prehistoric activity within the study site, and the wider surrounding area, suggests that there is a relatively high potential for early prehistoric artefactual evidence to be contained within topsoil deposits but a lesser potential for subsurface archaeological features.

Iron Age and Roman Period (c. 800 BC – c. AD 410)

5.18 There is no recorded evidence for Iron Age or Roman period activity within the study site.

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5.19 Evidence for the Iron Age or Roman periods within the wider search area is limited. Cropmarks of a sub-circular enclosure containing ring ditches, which could represent an Iron Age settlement, have been identified within the search area, but these are situated almost 1km to the north-west of the study site’s boundary, close to The Manor House on the northern edge of Oulton Airfield (MNF 40539).

5.20 Evidence for Roman period activity is largely restricted to cropmark features identified from aerial photographs in fields adjacent to Malt House and Nettleship Farm, at least 850m to the south of the study site (MNF 21849). It has also been suggested that a small enclosure identified as a cropmark on Oulton Airfield could be Roman in date (but could, alternatively, represent a Second World War feature) (MNF 40814).

5.21 Other undated cropmarks recorded within the search area could potentially represent Iron Age or Roman features (e.g. MNF 14397; 22903; 24975), but these have not been investigated on the ground, and in some cases could be geological in origin (e.g. MNF 40541). A geophysical survey undertaken along the cable route for the Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farm in 2017-2018 also identified trackways and enclosures to the east of Beerhouse Farm (ENF 142815).

5.22 The only other records of Roman period activity in the search area consist of two Roman copper allow stew pans found to the north-west of the former Bluestone Station, approximately 350m to the north-west of the study site, in 1953 (MNF 7322), and a Roman metal ‘spoon probe’ recovered during metal-detecting in 2016, close to Malt House, around 950m to the study site’s south (MNF 68804).

5.23 Although the recorded evidence for Iron Age and/or Roman period activity in the search area is limited, the presence of a possible Iron Age settlement to the north-west of the study site, and the site of a likely Roman fort to the south, suggests that there may be some potential for the survival of remains dating to these periods within the study site.

Medieval Period (c.AD 410 – c. 1540)

5.24 There is no evidence for medieval activity within the study site.

5.25 The study site is situated within the north-western corner of the parish of Cawston. The earliest documentary reference to a settlement here is from the Domesday Book of 1086, which records it as Caustuna or Caluestune (Williams and Davis 1992, 1055 and 1069), which may mean the ‘farmstead or village of a man called Kalfr’, combining a Norse personal name with the Old English suffix -tun (Mills 2011, 104). There is, however, no archaeological evidence within the search area for any early medieval activity.

5.26 Evidence of later medieval activity within the search area is limited to chance finds or discoveries made during metal detecting surveys, consisting of medieval coins (MNF 55057; 64888), a lead weight (MNF 7353), a buckle (MNF 69180) and other dress accessories (MNF 68804). It is probable that these represent accidental loss, or are the result of redeposition on the fields during manuring, rather than any settlement.

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5.27 The study site is situated outside the focus of any known medieval settlement and the study site is likely to have remained in agricultural use throughout the medieval period. Therefore, any potential buried archaeological features dating to the medieval period within the study site are likely to relate to agricultural activity and would be considered to be of negligible significance.

Post-medieval and Modern Periods (c.1540 – Present)

5.28 Faden’s map of Norfolk is the earliest to depict the area of the study site in detail, albeit at a small scale (Figure 2). This map shows the majority of the study site as being situated within Cawston Heath, with the exception of the site’s north-eastern side. The line of Holt Road (B1149) to the south-east is shown as it exists today, while to the east the road leading to Oulton Street village is shown as taking a more easterly route than it now follows. On the north-western side of the study site, the track that now forms the north-western boundary of the study site appears to have originated as a road running towards the north-east.

5.29 Cawston Heath was enclosed around 1802 (Cawston Heritage 2020), and the Cawston tithe map of 1840 shows the enclosed landscape (Figure 3). By this time the study site was divided between six fields, separated by straight surveyed boundaries. The apportionment accompanying the tithe map records that all the fields were under arable cultivation at this time, apart from fields 135 and 136, on the north-western side of the study site, which were under pasture.

5.30 The Ordnance Survey 25 inch map of 1886 shows no significant differences to the layout of the fields comprising the study site from that shown on the tithe map, although small scale marl extraction appears to have been taking place on the study site’s south-western side by this time (Figure 4). To the north the line of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (MNF 13581), constructed by 1881, is shown, with Bluestone Station close to the north-western corner of the study site. The house that survives, albeit much altered, close to the study site’s north-eastern corner, was built at this time adjacent to the level crossing. This map also depicts the extensive woodland covering the Bluestone Plantation to the south-west.

5.31 There was no apparent change to the study site through the early 20th century (see Figure 5), although the area of marl extraction reverted back to agricultural use.

5.32 In 1939 a new airfield, RAF Oulton (MNGF 7364), was constructed to the immediate north of the study site as a bomber airfield, initially with grass runways which were upgraded between 1943 and 1944 to concrete. Flight operations from the airfield ended in July 1945, after which it was used by the RAF for storage until 1947, when it was finally closed. The runways were subsequently used as foundations for battery farm sheds and a large portion of the runways was removed in 1979, to be used as hardcore for the bypass. The Ordnance Survey map of 1957 depicts the disused runways, taxiways and other structures on the site. There was, however, no impact on the study site from the establishment and operation of the airfield.

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5.33 Apart from the loss of one of the east-west aligned field boundaries crossing the north- eastern side of the study site by the 1970s (Figure 7), and the subsequent loss of an north- south boundary on the site’s north-western side, the site has remained largely unchanged since at least the early 20th century (see Figure 8).

6 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Designated Heritage Assets

6.1 The study site contains no designated heritage assets.

6.2 There are four designated heritage assets within the search area, in whole or in part; the Grade II Listed Beerhouse Farmhouse (NHLE 1250060), the south-eastern end of the Heydon/Salle Conservation Area, the south-western end of the Blickling Conservation Area, and the eastern end of the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden at Heydon Hall (NHLE 1000187). As discussed above there are no visual or historic association between the study site and Beerhouse Farmhouse, Heydon Hall RPG or the Blickling Conservation Area which could be considered to add to their significance. The only designated heritage asset which is considered to be potentially sensitive to development proposals is, therefore, the Heydon/Salle Conservation Area.

Heydon/Salle Conservation Area

Designation: Conservation Area

6.3 The Heydon/Salle Conservation Area (also referred to as the Heydon Rural Conservation Area) was first designated in June 1991 by Broadland District Council and the Conservation Area Character Statement (CACS) was adopted by the council in March 2008. The Conservation Area is very large, covering c.585ha, and has the Grade II* Heydon Hall RPG at its core with the wider Conservation Area encompassing parts of the estate that were latter added to the park (predominantly in the 19th century) but which are not considered to be of sufficient importance to be included within the RPG.

6.4 The Conservation Area has a strong rural character with the estate identity providing a coherent quality and character to the built form. The local landform, with subtle changes in relief, along with extensive areas of plantation and shelter belts, generally restrict views into and out from the Conservation Area, indeed the CACS notes that the shelter belts and plantations associated with Heydon Park, along with the more extensive Bluestone Plantation (which borders the study site), serve to provide a sense of enclosure to the Conservation Area and retain or direct views around the park. This is evidenced by the ‘important views’ identified in the CACS which are all internal looking.

6.5 The portion of the Conservation Area which is in closest proximity to the study site is the eastern edge of Bluestone Plantation. The plantation appears to have been created shortly after the enclosure of the heath in 1802 when the opportunity was taken to bring former

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common land firmly into the estate parkland. Within Blustone Plantation are two small cottages, Bluestone Hall (located in dense woodland c.100m from the study site) and Bluestone Lodge (located c.30m from the study site at the crossroads of Holt Road and Oulton Street).

6.6 Bluestone Hall had certainly been constructed by 1841 and is probably contemporary with the formation of Bluestone Plantation, although Bluestone Lodge appears to be a later addition, first appearing on the 1886 edition of the OS (surveyed in 1884). Whilst clearly contributing to the character of the Conservation Area, neither of these buildings are highlighted as an ‘important’ or ‘key’ unlisted building in the CACS.

6.7 Whilst the study site lies almost immediately adjacent to the edge of the Conservation Area it does not form part of, or facilitate, any significant views into or out of the Conservation Area.

6.8 The only point at which there are views encompassing parts of the study site and elements of the Conservation Area which allow any appreciation or experience of the Conservation Area as former parkland is around the crossroads just beyond the southern extent of the study site where, from certain limited points, it is possible to see both Bluestone Lodge (recognisable as an entrance feature to parkland) and part of the study site (Plates 8 & 9). However, Bluestone Plantation appears to have always been intended as a strong boundary feature to the estate parkland which now forms the Conservation Area and it is this sense of separation between what is inside and outside of the parkland, which is reinforced by the presence of the busy B1149, that is considered to make any real contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area.

6.9 Paragraph 201 of the NPPF is clear in stating that not all elements of a Conservation Area will contribute towards its significance and that assessment of significance should be assessed in terms of its contribution to the significance of the asset as a whole. The study site is, in its current form, considered to be a neutral element within the wider setting of the Conservation Area.

Potential Sub-Surface Archaeological Remains

6.10 The chance finds of Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic flint material from across the study site suggests that there may be potential for the survival of remains dating to these periods within the study site. However, given the transitory nature of early prehistoric settlement, it is considered that the potential for the survival of any features dating to these periods is low.

6.11 Although there is no evidence for Iron Age or Roman period remains within the study site, the presence of a possible Iron Age settlement to the north-west of the study site, and the site of a probable Roman fort to the south, as well as a limited number of Roman periods finds from within the search area, suggest there may be some limited potential for the survival of remains dating to these periods within the study site.

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6.12 It is likely that the study site was in agricultural use from at least the medieval period, and was situated at some distance from any recorded medieval settlement. It is possible that agricultural features of a medieval or post-medieval date could survive within the study site, such as the remains of ploughing or field boundaries, but any such features would be considered to be of negligible significance.

7 IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Proposed development 7.1 The development proposals comprise the construction of a solar farm, with associated infrastructure.

Previous Impacts 7.2 The study site has been subject to ploughing up to the present, as well as some limited marl extraction on its southern edge during the late 19th century.

Designated Heritage Assets 7.3 The only designated heritage asset considered to be potentially sensitive to development within the study site is the Haydon/Salle Conservation Area. As discussed above the study site, in its current form, is considered to make a neutral contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area. Whilst the proposed development will see the use of the study site change from agricultural land to a solar installation this change in itself is not considered to be harmful to the significance of the Conservation Area. As discussed above the key element that the section of Conservation Area adjacent the study site adds to its significance is in providing a strong boundary between what was within and without the parkland. This key element will remain unaffected by the change of use of the study site.

7.4 The study site does not form part of any key views into or out of the Conservation Area and there is only one point where limited views of the study site are available in conjunction with the Conservation Area which could be considered to contribute to an experience of the Conservation Area; that on approaching the Conservation Area at the south. Without any mitigation in place, and taking into consideration the contribution of this view to the significance of the Conservation Area as a whole, the impact would be considered to be a very low level of harm, at the very bottom of the less than substantial scale. However, with mitigation in place as shown in the accompanying layout (Appendix 2) comprising the setting back of any solar panels from the southern corner of the study site by c.60m and the north- western corner by c.50m combined with the retention and enhancement of hedgerows, it is considered that the proposed development would result in no harm to the significance of the Conservation Area.

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Potential Sub-Surface Archaeological Remains

7.5 This assessment has established that there is some limited potential for the survival of remains of a prehistoric or Roman period date in the study site that could be impacted by the proposed development. If archaeological remains dating to these periods are present in the site the significance of these would be vested in their evidential value and the potential contribution these could make to national and regional research agendas. There is no evidence, however, to suggest the presence of any remains of greater than local significance.

7.6 There is some limited potential for the survival of sub-surface features relating to medieval and post-medieval agricultural activity, such as ploughing or former field boundaries, which could be impacted by the proposed development, but any such remains would be considered to be of negligible significance.

8 CONCLUSIONS

8.1 This archaeological desk-based assessment draws together the available archaeological, historical, topographic and land-use information in order to clarify the significance and archaeological potential of land proposed for the construction of Docking Farm Solar Project, Broadland, Norfolk.

8.2 The assessment addresses the information requirements set out in the NPPF and provides the proportionate response sought by the NPPF.

8.3 The assessment has established that there are no designated heritage assets in the study site and that the proposed development will have no impact upon any designated heritage assets in the surrounding area.

8.4 The available archaeological records, combined with the results of the analysis of historical mapping and previous archaeological investigations, suggest that there is some limited potential for the survival of remains dating to the early prehistoric, Iron Age and Roman periods within the study site.

8.5 It is possible that buried remains relating to medieval or post-medieval agriculture could survive, such as ploughing or field boundaries, but these would be of negligible significance.

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9 REFERENCES

BGS 2020, British Geological Survey website, www.bgs.ac.uk/data/mapViewers/home.html (last accessed 6th August 2020) Broadland District Council 2008,Haydon/Salle Rural Conservation Area Character Statement. Adopted March 2008 Broadland District Council 2011, Joint Core Strategy for Broadlands, Norwich and South Norfolk. Adopted March 2011 (Amendments Adopted January 2014) Cawston Heritage 2020, Cawston Heritage website, www.cawstonheritage.co.uk/items/show/81 (last accessed 6th August 2020) CIfA 2014, Standard and guidance for historic environment desk-based assessment DCLG 2019, National Planning Policy Framework DCMS 2010, Scheduled Monuments. Identifying, protecting, conserving and investigating nationally important archaeological sites under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. March 2010 English Heritage 2010, Understanding Place English Heritage 2011a, The Setting of Heritage Assets English Heritage 2011b, Seeing the History in the View Historic England 2017, Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning: Note 3 (second edition) – The Setting of Heritage Assets Historic England 2019, Statements of Heritage Significance. Analysing Significance in Heritage Assets Medlycott, M. (ed.) 2011, Research and Archaeology Revisited: a revised framework for the East of England, East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Paper No.24 Mills, D. 2011, Dictionary of British Place-Names Williams, A. and Martin, G.H. 1992, Domesday Book. A Complete Translation

Historical Mapping

Faden, W. 1797, A Topographical Map of the County of Norfolk Cawston tithe map 1840 Ordnance Survey 1886, County Series 25 inch map (Somerset) sheet XXVII.16 Ordnance Survey 1906, County Series 25 inch map (Somerset) sheet XXVII.16 Ordnance Survey 1957, National Grid Series 6 inch map, sheet TG 12 NE Ordnance Survey 1975, National Grid Series, 1:2500 scale map

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Figures

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Study Site

Search Area

HER 'monument' point

HER 'monument' line

HER 'monument' area

HER 'event' area

Listed Building

Register Park and Garden

Conservaon Area

Figure 1. The study site and search area with the locaon of HER and NHLE records

© Crown copyright 2020 OS Licence 100059060

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Plates

Plate 1. Looking east across southern part of study site

Plate 2. Looking north-west along western edge of study site

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Plate 3. Looking north from south-western edge of study site

Plate 4. Looking south (towards Bluestone Lodge) from northern end of southern field

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Plate 5. Looking south from northern part of study site

Plate 6. Looking south from northern edge of study site

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Plate 7. Looking south across north-eastern field

Plate 8. Looking towards southern corner of study site adjacent Bluestone Lodge

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Plate 9. Bluestone Lodge from southern corner of study site

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Appendix 1: Gazetteer of heritage assets

The following table provides details of heritage assets recorded on the Norfolk HER and on the Historic England National Heritage List for England within 1km of the study site. These have been listed in order of their HER references, and their locations are marked on Figure 1.

Ref. Name Description NGR Designation Period

HER ‘monument ‘ records:

Mesolithic flint tranchet In 1974 a Mesolithic flint tranchet axehead fragment was ploughed up at this MNF7319 TG 1437 2699 Prehistoric axehead location.

Neolithic polished flint MNF7320 In 1965 a Neolithic polished flint axehead was recovered from this location. TG 1390 2741 Prehistoric axehead

In 1953 two Roman copper alloy stew pans were found a short distance MNF7322 Roman stew pans northwest of Bluestone Station. One was decorated with motifs, while the other TG 1379 2682 Roman had a crescentic hole at the end of the handle.

Mesolithic retouched flint MNF7332 A Mesolithic retouched flint blade was found here in 1974. TG 1392 2534 Prehistoric blade

A Neolithic or Bronze Age perforated mace head was found at some time before MNF7333 Neolithic stone find TG 135 254 Prehistoric 1907.

Two prehistoric core tools were recovered in this field during harvesting in 1967. ?Palaeolithic and Neolithic flint One was identified as a Neolithic part-polished adze and the other as a MNF7336 TG 1417 2629 Prehistoric implements ?unfinished axehead. It has been suggested that the latter may actually be a Palaeolithic handaxe.

MNF7338 Neolithic flint find A Neolithic chipped flint axe with a polished cutting edge was found in 1969. TG 1454 2625 Prehistoric

MNF7341 Neolithic flint find A broken Neolithic polished flint axehead was found in 1971. TG 1406 2552 Prehistoric

MNF7342 Neolithic flint find An unfinished Neolithic chipped flint axehead was found in 1971. TG 1400 2538 Prehistoric

Two fragments of Neolithic flint axeheads were found in 1971. Metal-detecting MNF7343 Neolithic flint finds TG 14 25 Prehistoric in 2011 recovered a medieval guard of a quillon-dagger.

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MNF7346 Bronze Age stone find Part of a Bronze Age stone macehead was found in 1962. TG 1422 2535 Prehistoric

A quantity of iron slag was ploughed up in 1957, possibly indicating an iron MNF7348 Undated iron slag TG 1429 2635 Undated working site.

Brick and flint building foundations were reported to have been found in 1969. Flint and brick foundations reported by phone - also a 23cm ( 9 inch) square possible duct. Bricks 5cm (2 inches by 1.5cm (4 1/2 inches) by 23cm (9 MNF7349 Undated building foundations inches). OS card, noting above, states that a 'ladder' cropmark runs east to TG 1355 2555 Undated west on OS aerial photograph 71-088-134. It also says the finds were claimed as part of Alvingham deserted medieval village, traditionally located in this area, but this has now been located at 7463.

MNF7352 Prehistoric flint find A prehistoric flint flake was found in 1975. TG 1377 2527 Prehistoric

Neolithic, Roman and Part of a Neolithic chipped flint axehead was ploughed up in 1975, while metal- Prehistoric / MNF7353 medieval to post-medieval detecting in 2016 recovered a Roman brooch; a medieval lead weight and TG 14 25 Roman / Post- finds rotary key and a medieval/post-medieval furniture handle attachment stud. medieval

MNF7355 Mesolithic flint axehead A Mesolithic flaked axehead (made on a large flake) was found here in 1975. TG 146 263 Prehistoric

The site of a World War Two airfield, opened in 1940 and used by both RAF and USAAF bomber squadrons. It was closed after the war, and the runways were used as foundations for battery farm sheds. Some of the buildings remain, including the control tower. A large portion of the runways was removed in 1979 and used as hardcore for the Aylsham bypass. The site of a MNF7364 Oulton Airfield TG 1453 2736 Modern World War Two airfield, opened in 1940 and used by both RAF and USAAF bomber squadrons. It was closed after the war, and the runways were used as foundations for battery farm sheds. Some of the buildings remain, including the control tower. A large portion of the runways was removed in 1979 and used as hardcore for the Aylsham bypass.

Potato harvesting in 1974 turned up a Bronze Age copper alloy palstave (an MNF7388 Bronze Age metal find TG 158 264 Prehistoric axehead).

A Palaeolithic flint handaxe was found here in 1976.A Palaeolithic flint handaxe MNF11395 Palaeolithic flint handaxe TG 1467 2621 Prehistoric was found here in 1976.

MNF11396 Neolithic flint find A Neolithic flint scraper was found in 1976. TG 1462 2639 Prehistoric

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This brick-built building dates to the early 18th century. It has shaped gables and comprises three bays and two storeys. The unusual wooden porch is of a MNF12734 Manor House TG 1390 2762 Post-medieval later date. It now stands empty and the contemporary farm buildings are ruinous.

Post medieval house, Oulton This long brick-built house dates to the 17th century. However, it has MNF13484 TG 1520 2719 Post-medieval Street undergone heavy alteration but retains a shaped gable at the east end.

The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway link between Great Yarmouth and Sutton Bridge was opened in sections. The section between King's Lynn and Sutton Bridge had stations at South Lynn, Clenchwarton and Terrington and Walpole, and was opened by the Lynn & Sutton Bridge Railway in 1864. Route of Midland and Great The section between King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth had twenty two MNF13581 Northern Joint Railway (Great TG 01603 19784 19th century intermediate stations and opened under the Yarmouth & Railway Yarmouth to Sutton Bridge) from 1877 to 1881, the Lynn & Railway between 1879 and 1882, and by the Eastern & Midlands in 1883. The whole system was closed on 2 March 1959, although some sections survive as paths. A number of stations, signal boxes, goods sheds and concrete mileposts remain. This line linked Wroxham to County School, through Aylsham. It opened from Wroxham to Buxton in 1878, to Aylsham in 1879, Reepham 1881, and Broom Green in 1882. It was closed in 1952, with concrete trains running along part of the line until the 1970s. The route passed from Wroxham (where it had a junction with NHER 13586) to , then , Aylsham, Route of East , Cawston, Reepham, and Broom Green (junction with NHER MNF13587 Aylsham Branch, including TG 14270 22755 19th century 13588). The track was later extended to continue along the Fakenham line to County School. A number of stations and railway buildings are thought to survive at Buxton with Lamas, Cawston, Coltishall, and Foulsham, as well as a bridge over the Bure. Part of the line from Wroxham to Alysham has now been re-laid as a narrow gauge railway (Bure Valley Railway), and beyond Aylsham the line serves as an extension to the Marriot's Way footpath.

Aerial photography in 1979 revealed the cropmark of what may be a building. MNF14397 Undated cropmark TG 1476 2555 Undated Its date is not known.

MNF15186 Neolithic stone find A small Neolithic polished stone axehead was found in 1979. TG 1404 2550 Prehistoric

Potato harvesting in 1984 turned up half of a Neolithic partially-polished flint MNF20473 Neolithic flint find TG 1430 2615 Prehistoric axehead.

MNF20474 Neolithic flint find Potato harvesting in 1984 turned up part of a Neolithic flaked flint adze. TG 1455 2614 Prehistoric

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MNF20475 Neolithic flint find Potato harvesting in 1984 turned up a Neolithic part polished axehead. TG 1422 2545 Prehistoric

MNF21154 Neolithic flint finds Farming in 1984 turned up a Neolithic chipped flint axehead and flake. TG 1431 2517 Prehistoric

Aerial photography from 1981 to 1996 recorded the cropmarks of a probable Probable Roman fort and Roman triple ditched fort, with associated marks that may have been a related MNF21849 TG 14 24 Roman associated cropmark features settlement. Although this site has been metal-detected on a number of occasions, to date two coins are the only Roman finds to have been recovered. A 16th century timber-frame house with frame partly replaced with brick. A LB II MNF21864 Beerhouse Farm, Cawston pantiled roof. It is two storeys high with an attic, and a lean-to range to the TG 1407 2550 Post-medieval 1250060 north. A large part of the building had its walls raised in the late 18th century.

Undated enclosures and Aerial photography in 1980 and 1986 revealed the cropmarks of rectangular MNF22903 TG 1445 2559 Undated trackways enclosures and a trackway. The date of these features is not known.

MNF23969 Neolithic flint find Farm work in 1987 turned up a roughout for a Neolithic axehead. TG 1371 2565 Prehistoric

Aerial photographs showed cropmarks of ditches and trackways in this area. Cropmarks of undated These features were further investigated in the summers of 1993 and 1996 MNF24975 features/trackways and TG 1338 2768 Undated and the cropmarks of field systems and distinct rectangular enclosures were enclosures noted. No date of function has been assigned to this complex set of markings.

An early 19th century farmstead with a brick barn. The farm is probably on the MNF29279 Docking Farm TG 1536 2614 Post-medieval site of part of a medieval deer park.

1986 aerial photographs revealed the cropmarks of a trackway. This mark may MNF29565 Undated cropmarks TG 1523 2573 Undated be the remains of a tree-lined avenue marked on a 19th century map

Metal detecting in 1993 recovered a Bronze Age flanged axe and a post Preistoric to 19th MNF29841 Multi-period metal finds TG 14 24 medieval hooked tag. Century

A historic park, first laid out from about 1764. Early 18th century trees planted in crowsfoot patterns were felled in 1794 by William Earle Bulwer in order to meet the cost of raising a regiment. There have been several subsequent P+G II* MNF30440 Heydon Park phases of development, including a trebling in size of the park's area in the TG 119 272 Post-medieval 1000187 early 19th century. The current park and walled gardens are 19th century, with a lake of 1890, and restoration work to these has been carried out since 1972, although the gales in 1987 caused much damage.

MNF32246 Possible Bronze Age ring ditch Aerial photographs taken in 1992 show the cropmark of a ring ditch. TG 1338 2633 Prehistoric

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A very rare heavy machine gun emplacement dating to about 1940 was World War Two gun MNF32491 located here. It was intended to cover the airfield but its line of fire was soon TG 1429 2758 Modern emplacement blocked by the construction of a building. Aerial photography in June 1996 identified cropmarks showing a sub-circular Cropmarks of an Iron Age enclosure with ring ditch or house circle inside it as well as two further ring MNF40539 enclosure with hut circle, east TG 1407 2764 Prehistoric ditches. It seems likely that the enclosure with ring ditch/house circle is of Iron of Manor Farm Age date but other visible features have not been dated.

1996 aerial photographs record the cropmarks of a complex series of enclosures MNF40541 Undated cropmarks TG 1364 2535 Undated and linear marks. It is not entirely clear if these are archaeological or geological.

Aerial photography in June 1996 identified cropmarks of a square enclosure Cropmarks of a Roman or located on Oulton Airfield. The fact that the site appears to be on a similar alignment MNF40814 World War Two enclosure, TG 1509 2702 Undated to the road and elements of the airfield could suggest it also dates to World War Oulton Airfield Two. However, the morphology of the enclosure indicates a Roman date.

Medieval and post medieval Metal detecting recovered medieval and post medieval finds, including a post- Medieval to Post- MNF54967 TG 13 27 finds medieval coin weight. medieval

Medieval and post medieval Medieval and post-medieval coins were found during metal detecting survey Medieval to Post- MNF55057 TG 13 27 coins in 2006/early 2007. medieval

Early 19th century milestone One of 14 surviving milestones along the Norwich to Holt road, which, apart MNF62863 marking Norwich 11 miles and from the first few miles of the road being part of the Norwich to Cromer TG 1488 2516 19th Century Holt 10 miles turnpike, was not incorporated into a turnpike trust. 19th century milestone An additional surviving milestone along the Norwich to Holt road, which, apart MNF62943 marking Norwich 12 miles and from the first few miles of the road being part of the Norwich to Cromer TG 1402 2648 19th Century Holt 9 miles turnpike, was not incorporated into a turnpike trust. A Mesolithic or later quartzite macehead was found here in 1968. Subsequent Prehistoric / MNF64888 Multi-period finds metal-detecting between 1987 and 2011 recovered two Roman coins, a TG 14 24 Roman / Post- number of medieval coins and a post-medieval buckle. medieval

MNF66858 Post-medieval cauldron Metal-detecting in 2014 recovered over half of a post-medieval cauldron. TG 15 27 Post-medieval

Metal-detecting in 2016 recovered post-medieval pottery sherds as well as Roman and medieval to post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include a Roman spoon probe; medieval and post-medieval dress accessories; a Roman and medieval to post- Roman to Post- MNF68804 medieval harness mount, harness pendant, thimble and scabbard chape; a TG 14 24 medieval finds medieval medieval/post-medieval spur rowel and post-medieval harness mounts, saddle pommel cap fragments, a hooked sword belt mount, sword belt hanger and lead weight.

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Medieval and post-medieval Metal-detecting in 2016 recovered a medieval buckle, strap-end and hinge Medieval to Post- MNF69180 TG 13 25 finds plate and a post-medieval buckle and harness mount. medieval

HER ‘event’ records:

Land adjacent to and within the former airfield were subject to a detailed gradiometer survey (Wessex Archaeology 2015). This demonstrated the presence of anomalies of likely, probable and possible archaeological interest along with the remains of a former dismantled railway, discrete areas of Geophysical Survey by ferrous, ploughing trends, and some trends of uncertain origin (Figure 1). The Undated / Post- ENF137492 Wessex Archaeology at survey located a possible enclosure, two former field boundaries identified on TG 1421 2706 medieval / Modern Oulton Airfield, Oulton, 2015 19th century mapping, features associated with the use of the site as an airfield and the remains of a dismantled railway line on the south-western edge of the survey area. However, in the case of the features linked to the airfield, these anomalies largely relate to a bunker and trackway which have subsequently been removed. Trial Trenching by Wessex ENF138817 Archaeology at Oulton Airfield, Information not available. TG 1386 2706 Undated Oulton, 2015 (Phase 1) Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd undertook a geophysical (magnetometer) survey, covering approximately 600 hectares, along the onshore cable corridor Geophysical Survey by and associated onshore project area for the Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Headland Archaeology on Farm, in order to provide further information about the archaeological potential ENF142815 route of Norfolk Vanguard TG 3870 3036 Undated of the cable route. A clear area of archaeological activity was identified Offshore Wind Farm, October immediately east of Beerhouse Farm, crossing Area 60 and the south of Area 2017-March 2018 (Phase 1) 61, and comprising of at least two rectilinear enclosures either side of an east/west trackway. NHLE records:

An early C18 landscape park and woodland, further developed in the C19, with 1000187 Heydon Hall TG 11985 27191 P+G II* Post-medieval late C19 formal gardens and lawns beside the house.

Farmhouse, C16, of timber frame and red brick, with pantile roof. 2 storeys and 1250060 Beerhouse Farm attics, with continuous single storey outshut to north. Timber frame extends from TG 14072 25505 LB II Post-medieval the east end up to the early C18 brickwork at the west end.

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Appendix 2: Proposed Layout

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NOTES Do not scale from this drawing electronically or manually, use written dimensions only.

All dimensions are in millimeters unless stated otherwise.

This drawing is produced for use in this project only and may not be used for any other purpose. Lanproservices Ltd. accept no liability for the use of this drawing other than the purpose for which it was intended in connection with this project as recorded on the title fields 'Purpose for Issue' and 'Drawing Status Code'.

This drawing may not be reproduced in any form without prior ESS written agreement of Lanproservices Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2017.

Ordnance Survey Licence Number 0100031673

CDM 2015

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) makes a distinction between domestic and commercial clients and outlines the duties you, as client, have under Health and Safety Law (HSE).

These duties can be found at.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/responsibilities.htm

It is your responsibility as client to make yourself aware Bluestone of your role within CDM 2015 and act accordingly. Cottage

Site Area: 35.67 ha

Please refer to Site Design Plan drawing no. PL.001 for detailed technical information

CCTV Buried communications cable to substation

CCTV

CCTV CCTV The Old Railway CCTV Gatehouse

Bluestone Hall CCTV MV Power Station

CCTV

CCTV CCTV

MV Power Station Temporary construction compound CCTV

Storage Container and Satellite Dish CCTV Entrance only access point CCTV

CCTV

Theoretical visibility splay to north: 2.4m x 161m

Site boundary revised H REVISED BY: SF DATE: 10.09.20 CHECKED BY: SC DATE: 10.09.20 Site boundary revised G Communications cable route and trees on The Street amended REVISED BY: SF DATE: 10.09.20 CHECKED BY: SC DATE: 10.09.20 Site boundary revised F Communications cable route and point of grid connection added REVISED BY: SF DATE: 03.09.20 CHECKED BY: SC DATE: 03.09.20 CCTV Site infrastructure and CCTV locations labelled E REVISED BY: SF DATE: 06.08.20 CHECKED BY: JC DATE: 06.08.20 Bluestone Plantation Updated labelling D Provision of visibility splays and minor amendments to access/egress geometry Exit only access point, REVISED BY: SF DATE: 29.07.20 CHECKED BY: JC DATE: 29.07.20 New entrance/exit points C with no left hand turn REVISED BY: SF DATE: 23.07.20 CHECKED BY: JC DATE: 23.07.20 Site boundary revised B REVISED BY: SF DATE: 30.06.20 CHECKED BY: JC DATE: 30.06.20 CCTV Site boundary revised A Battery storage and transformer units REVISED BY: SF DATE: 09.06.20 CHECKED BY: JC DATE: 09.06.20

PURPOSE OF ISSUE RIBA STAGE PL - For Planning Submission Point of Connection to 33kV tower DRAWING STATUS THE STREET S2 - Fit for Information

B1149 Substation PROJECT TITLE Track Docking Farm Solar Project CLIENT Customer + DNO Substation Docking Farm Solar Ltd. Existing access point to be blocked DRAWING TITLE SCALE Proposed Site Layout Plan 1:2000@A1

Bluestone Lodge CCTV DATE DRAWN BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY Theoretical visibility splay to south: March 2020 SF SC / JC JC 2.4m x >215m DRAWING NUMBER

PROJECT NO TYPE UNIQUE NO REVISION W 2050 - -- H00200

Site Plan 1:2000 @ A1 N Docking Plantation 20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200m

|Architecture and Urban Design| 1:2000 Norwich Office: Brettingham House, 98 Pottergate, Norwich, NR2 1EQ Tel 01603 631 319 www.lanproservices.co.uk