Archaeological
Works
Vanguard West & East Offshore Wind Farms
Archaeological investigations during onshore construction
Before construction begins on major infrastructure projects, a programme of preparatory work is required. For the Vanguard West & East Offshore Wind Farms, this included archaeological investigations along the onshore cable route from landfall at Happisburgh to the onshore substation location at Necton.
In the UK, archaeological work associated with development is secured through the planning and consenting process and agreed with the County Archaeologist and local authorities. For these projects, investigations were carried out by Headland Archaeology in collaboration with Norfolk County Council’s Historic Environment Service.
The purpose of this work is to identify and understand archaeological remains that may be affected by construction, ensuring they are appropriately investigated and recorded. Archaeological investigations take place alongside environmental surveys and ground investigations as part of early stage project preparation.
In March 2026, we held public exhibition events to share information about this work and some of the discoveries made along the route. An information pack containing the materials displayed at those events can be downloaded below.
Archaeology along the Vanguard onshore cable route
The onshore cable route for the Vanguard projects extends for approximately 60km across Norfolk. Investigating this route as a continuous corridor provided an opportunity to understand how the landscape has been used over time, from early prehistory through the Roman and medieval periods.
The work has added to existing archaeological knowledge of the area and, in some cases, revealed previously unknown sites.
The Roman Villa
One of the most significant discoveries made during archaeological investigations for the Vanguard projects was the identification of a Roman Villa Estate, including remains of both a villa and bath house.
The presence of the villa was not identified during the early stages of assessment. Its significance became clear through later fieldwork, using geophysical survey techniques, which revealed a multi-phase complex indicating a long lived and evolving estate.
Artefacts and environmental evidence recovered from the site are helping to date activity and build a picture of daily life, agriculture and land use during the Roman period. The scale and character of the remains indicate a site of regional importance and make a substantial contribution to understanding Roman settlement in Norfolk.
Other key findings
Archaeological investigations also identified evidence of early prehistoric activity, including Neolithic and Bronze Age features, as well as widespread medieval settlement dating from the Late Saxon period through to the later Middle Ages.
Some remains may relate to settlements recorded in historic sources such as the Domesday Book, helping link archaeological evidence with documentary records. To read more about the range of findings, please see the information pack linked above.
What happens next?
Fieldwork is only one stage of the archaeological process. Post excavation analysis, reporting and publication are ongoing to ensure that the information gathered contributes to wider understanding of Norfolk’s past. Finds will be recorded, analysed by expert archaeologists and written up in published journals. Once this detailed process is complete, the finds are safely deposited in the Norfolk Museum Service archives, to preserve them for years to come.
Bringing the Roman Villa to life
Alongside the archaeological investigations carried out as part of onshore construction preparation, a Roman Villa augmented reality app has been developed to help bring one of the project’s most significant discoveries to life.
The app has been designed primarily for schools, with content tailored to Key Stage 2. It allows users to explore a digital reconstruction of the Roman Villa Estate identified along the onshore cable route. Using augmented reality, it draws on archaeological evidence and interpretation developed by Headland Archaeology, showing how the site may have looked and how people lived and worked there during the Roman period.
While created with schools in mind, the app is also a fun and accessible way for anyone to step back in time and explore the archaeology uncovered through the project. It offers an engaging way to connect with the evidence beyond what can be seen in the ground today.
A supporting schools pack is currently in development. This will link the Roman Villa discovery to curriculum-relevant learning, helping teachers explore Roman Britain, archaeology and responsible infrastructure development. If you would like more information about the app, the schools materials or the archaeological work carried out for the Vanguard West & East projects, please contact us.
You can also explore the Roman Villa at home by downloading Roman Villa: A Day in the Life to your mobile device. The free app brings the archaeological evidence to life through augmented reality and is available for smartphones and tablets.
