NHER 38832 (Monument) - Word War Two beach scaffolding

October 2004. Norfolk NMP.
World War Two beach scaffolding defences and barbed wire obstruction are visible on aerial photographs by to the east of the Gangway on Cromer seafront (S1 and S2). This scaffolding runs along behind a type 22 pillbox (NHER 32576), positioned on the east of the promenade, and a second gun emplacement by the Doctor's steps (NHER 38833). The site is centred on TG 2242 4209.

The beach scaffolding runs from the base of the Gangway at TG 2213 4220 to just past the Doctor's steps at approximately TG 2234 4212. This scaffolding runs behind the pillbox and gun emplacement (NHER 32576 and 38833). The scaffolding is not present on the 7th August 1941 (S3), but has been erected by 28th August 1941 (S1), giving quite a clear period of construction. On 1942 vertical aerial photographs (S2) a line of barbed wire is possibly visible running from the eastern end of the scaffolding to approximately 500m to the east, ending at the cliff base at TG 2278 4194. It is hard to say for definite whether the line visible on the aerial photographs is barbed wire, as the clarity of image is not sufficient. However the fact that the line appears to curve around towards the cliff would indicate that it is not a high tide line.
S. Massey (NMP), 07 October 2004.