NHER 27885 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two gun emplacements

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Group of four earthworks of possible World War Two gun emplacements visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 and 1950 (S1-2). The earthworks are arranged in a line from south-east to north-west. The eastern emplacement is at TG 07656 42924 and consists of a C-shaped bank, up to 1m thick, measuring 7.5m by 6m. The enclosure has an entrance to the west and appears to have a sunken interior. The emplacement to the west is at TG 07631 42932 and again is C-shaped measuring 9.5m by 8m. The bank varies in its width quite considerably from 1.5m to 3m and has an entrance to the south-east. Again the interior is sunken. The next emplacement is at TG 07605 42939 and is C-shaped measuring 8m by 7m and varies in width from 1m-2.5m, with an entrance to the south-west. The western emplacement consists of two sections of bank. The main section is C-shaped as with the other examples, although this also has a straight section to the north. The whole structure measures 7.5m by 7m and has entrances to both the north-west and to the north-east. As with the eastern structures the western two emplacements have sunken interiors. These banked enclosures are likely to have been part of a light anti-aircraft battery and would have held guns. As with other examples on the heath these may have been used for training or it is possible that they may have been defending the World War Two radar station to the west (NHER 23386).
S. Massey (NMP), 17 April 2003.

May 2003. Field observations.
A line of four World War Two searchlight/anti aircraft batteries recorded by NMP.
Three of four found on the ground in dense gorse at TG 07854 42953, TG 07627 42940 and TG 07652 42930. All around 5 by 5m and 1m deep, with bank around. The fourth example may well be extant, although not found on this occasion.
D. Gurney (NLA), 18 June 2003.