NHER 38814 (Monument record) - World War Two earthworks and defences

September 2004. Norfolk NMP.
A large and dispersed group of World War Two date earthworks, defences and training exercises are located in the East Wood within Cromer Park (NHER 33460) and are visible on aerial photographs (S1) and (S2). The earthworks appear to consist of several areas of slit trenches and practice trenches, barbed wire obstructions and possible gun emplacements and weapons pits. These sites are likely to have been created during military training exercises as well as having defensive purposes. Other World War Two date earthworks and structures are visible in the adjacent 'Hall Wood' (NHER 38813), plus a type 22 pillbox (NHER 22555). The dispersed site is centred on TG 2178 4154.

The most obvious component of the site from the air is an oval arrangement of slit trenches centred on TG 2166 4177, encircling an area of higher ground. The trenches form a slight zigzag oval measuring approximately 40m by 30m, with an upcast bank along the southern outer perimeter. Within the centre of the trenched area is another line of trenches forming a bastion-like arrangement. To the north of this is an oblong pit, 4m by 3m, with an exterior bank. It is possible that this is a gun position or emplacement or possibly a large weapons pit. Two further oblong pits of similar dimensions and construction are visible to the south, centred on TG 2165 4165. A zigzag line of slit trench joins these two pits. A further section of trench is visible at TG 2172 4169, this again has a bastion-like plan and measures approximately 10m. A further system of slit trenches are visible at TG 2179 4144. This consists of a main C shaped ditch with smaller trenches running off to either side.

A further group of possibly military earthworks are visible centred on TG 2174 4159. A narrow semi-circular embankment is visible at 2173 4160. This forms a half-circle with a radius of 7m. To the north of this, centred on TG 2175 4158, are two further semi-circular earthworks. A combination of tree cover and clarity of the earthworks makes these features hard to discern on the 1946 aerial photographs (S1). However it would appear that there is a broad semi-circular or U shaped bank, measuring 12.5m across and 8.5m wide. The earthworks to the immediate east of this are not particularly clear. However in 1967 (S2) a well defined, 3 to 4m wide, C shaped cut is visible, cut into the slope. Although this feature is not clearly visible on earlier aerial photographs, it seems likely that this dates to the World War Two activity.

A line of barbed wire obstruction runs along the western edge of East Woods, running from opposite Cromer Hall entrance and the type 22 pillbox (NHER 22555) towards an area of rough ground to the south east. A group of possible small weapons pits and slit trenches are visible cut into this ground, centred on TG 2192 4135. These are mapped as an extent of area rather than individually. A small circular pit, approximately 2m across, is visible cut into the field boundary at 2179 4133. It is possible that this is a spigot mortar emplacement or similar gun position. A further possible stretch of barbed wire is visible, centred on TG 2193 4159, coming out of East Woods towards the now demolished New Haven Court.
S. Massey (NMP), 27 September 2004