NHER 38831 (Monument record) - World War Two earthworks and defences

October 2004. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two slit trenches and military earthworks are visible on aerial photographs within an area of grass in North Lodge Park (S1 to S3). The site is centred on TG 2232 4207. One of earthworks may be a covered and camouflaged air raid shelter, although this is not certain. It is likely that the majority of these features were created as part of military training exercises, possible by the Home Guard. A large communal air raid shelter is located nearby within the park (NHER 38831) and the cliff top to the west is covered with several pillboxes and gun emplacements (NHER 38834).

The majority of the earthworks consist of small sections of trench with an associated bank of upcast material. Many of these have the characteristic zigzag for of military slit trenches. Several areas of raised ground to the south of the area may indicate further military earthworks. A low bank of material is visible to the north, measuring 25m long and up to 3.5m wide

A small structure stands in the north west corner of the lawn. This is not particularly clear on the vertical aerial photographs from 1941 (S1), although it can clearly be seen on the oblique aerial photographs from the same year (S2 and S3). This is partially due to either close natural vegetation cover or perhaps deliberate camouflage attempts.

At TG 2234 42056 is a low oblong mound, measuring 12m by 4.5m, and appears to have a small projecting structure to the southern end. This feature is comparable to a mound interpreted as an Anderson shelter in a Cromer back garden also visible in 1941 (NHER 38829). In this case the projection was interpreted as an emergency exit and/or vent. It is possible that this oblong mound is also an air raid shelter, perhaps relating to the military training on the site. As mentioned above a large public shelter is located within 125m (NHER 38826). Some caution must be applied to the interpretation of this low mound being a shelter, as the feature does not look very convincing on the available oblique aerial photographs of the site (S2-3). If it is an Anderson or similar shelter, then it must be quiet sunken in its construction.

A variety of cropmark are visible on this piece of lawn on recent photography (S4). It is possible that some of these relate to the World War Two slit trenches, although the majority must be the remains of former bedding and planting regimes within the garden.
S. Massey (NMP), 07 October 2004.