NHER 38862 (Monument record) - World War Two defences

October 2004. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two defences are visible on aerial photographs which protect and blockade the path up from the Esplanade to Cromer cliffs (S1 to S3). These consist of a possible gun emplacement or position and several rows of anti-tank blocks and cubes and bent hairpin rails blocking the main access from the beach. A camouflaged pillbox is positioning in front of these roadblocks (NHER 38858). The whole of Cromer Esplanade is defended by a continuous line of pillboxes and gun emplacements, positioned at regular intervals along the seafront (NHER 32576, 38832 to 3, 38850 to 1, 38857 and 38863).

The site is centred on TG 2171 4239. The oblique aerial photographs from 1940 is not clear enough to distinguish these features (S4), although it is likely that some sort of blockade already existed at this time. Individual structural elements are only visible in the 1941 aerial photographs (S1 to S3). Either side of TG 2171 4238 are two anti-tank cubes, 1.5m across. Bridging the gap in-between these cubes are at least two vertical rails fixed into the road surface. Approximately 8m behind these cubes are two rows behind of bent rails, known as hairpins, blocking the majority of the access. At TG 2174 4240 and TG 2166 4242 are two anti tank cube each blocking the paths up from the beach to the Esplanade (S3). At TG 2176 4237 a rectangular concrete structure, measuring 5m by 3.5m, is visible on the 1941 vertical aerial photographs (S2). This appears to have been constructed on top of an existing structure and on oblique aerial photographs from the same year, it would appear to have been constructed out of two L shaped walls placed end of end (S3). The exact purpose of this structure is not known, although it is obviously military, possibly a gun emplacement or position.
All of these defences have been removed by June 1946 (S5).
S. Massey (NMP), 14 October 2004.