NHER 34546 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two heavy anti aircraft battery, Burgh Castle

June 1999. Air Photo Interpretation.
RAF aerial photography dated April 1946 shows 4 circular structures and ancillary buildings, probable searchlight battery (S1).
Main structures have raised Ordnance Survey line and entrances to east, look to constructed rectangular blocks.
These remains were previously recorded under NHER 17261.
B. Cushion (NLA) 8 June 1999.

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery is visible on aerial photographs at Burgh Castle (S1-S2). This battery consists of four Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) gun emplacements and the Command Post, plus associated structures and a military camp. The military camp is located in the northwest corner of the field, centred on TG 4775 0502, and consists of a variety of huts. These are mainly curved profile huts and are probably nissens. These would have provided operational rooms, stores and accommodation for the battery. This site, which was referred to as ‘YH5’ in military records (S3: p489). This site has previously interpreted as searchlight battery, although the aerial photographs do not support this suggestion. The Anti-Aircraft battery would probably have had searchlight emplacements on site, although these may have been mobile and mounted on trailers and therefore leaving little distinguishable trace by 1946. A larger searchlight battery is located on Belton Common, approximately 2.5km to the south (NHER 43359).

The actual guns are centred on TG 4795 0493. The four emplacements are of concrete construction and approximately 12m across. The central gun pit is surrounded by recesses and ammunitions lockers, forming a cross-shaped design. An earthen revetment also surrounds the lockers. On two of the emplacements an earth-covered shelter or gun maintenance area is visible to either side of the emplacement. The command post is located at TG 4796 0493 and measures 10m by 6.5m with a surrounding earthen revetment. To the immediate south of this is an area of hardstanding or disturbed ground where a structure has stood relatively recently, measuring approximately 12m by 10m. The remnants of a bank are visible to the west of this platform, indicating that this building was probably also originally revetted with earth. Two addition rectangular structures are visible to the south of the guns, measuring 4.5m by 4m and 5m by 3m. One of these may be a generator house.

To the south of the battery are another group of structures, all situated alongside the field boundary (S1). The quality of the photographs is quite poor so few distinguishing features of the buildings can be recorded other than basic size and shape. The larger structure is concrete, flat-roofed and measures approximately 12m by 4m. A small square feature is visible to the north, this looks similar to the vents identified on top of underground shelters. To the south is a rectangular structure, possibly a curved-profile hut, measuring 6m by 3m. These buildings appear to be being demolished in June 1946 (S2).

In the northeastern corner of the field a spigot mortar emplacement, with a wide surrounding embankment, is visible at TG 4795 0507. A roughly rectangular area of hardstanding or disturbed ground is visible at TG 4793 0508, measuring 8m by 5m. It is possible that there are other military structures in this corner of the field, although the photographs are not clear enough to be certain.

The central grid reference for this site has been altered from TG 4797 0494 to TG 4790 0503.
S. Massey (NMP), 09 March 2006