NHER 38871 (Monument record) - World War One or World War Two trenches

October 2004. Norfolk NMP.
A group of possibly First and Second World War date slit trenches and practice trenches are cut into the Cromer sunken gardens at the Marrams (NHER 33461) and are visible on aerial photographs from 1940 to 1942 (S1 to S3). This site consists of a multitude of trenches and associated banks, a possible gun emplacement and several pits, possibly representing weapons pits. The site is centred on TG 2144 4239. This site may have acted as a military training site, as the cliffs and dunes at Cromer were often used for training the troops (Brooks, 1988: 17) (S4) although it will have played had an obvious defensive role in protecting Cromer. There are further areas of trenches along the cliff top to the west (NHER 38875).

These trenches are mainly of a crenellated design in the manner of World War One trenches, although many of these earthworks look relatively fresh in 1940 t 1941 (S1 to S3), suggesting that they are World War Two in date, despite design. The clearest line of crenellated trench is 25m long and runs from TG 2145 4240 to TG 2148 4240, with a visible bank of up cast material to the north. A much narrower and less clear crenellated trench then flanks this bank to the north. To the immediate south of this group are two raised areas, with trenches cut into them. It is not entirely clear whether these raised areas relate to the existing dunes or were created through the digging of the military fieldworks.

Within the western part of the site, where some landscaping has taken place, faint traces of possibel trenches are visiblw. These do not look as recent as the rest of the site in 1941. Unfortunately the 1940 oblique aerial photographs of the site are not at the correct angle to view the earthworks clearly (S2). It is possible that these are the remains of earlier, already filled in trenches. This would suggest that this area was used for military training during both the First and Second World wars, potentially with the eastern trenches being re-dug along their original lines. This eastern section of the Marrams does not appear to have been landscaped until the 1950s. It is therefore possible that, despite work on the gardens being starting in 1910, that an area of World War One date trenches could have survived in the old dunes and rough ground (Taigel, 1998:9-10) (S5).

At TG 2143 4240 is an oval pit, 4m by 3m, with quite straight and deep sides. This has the appearance of being stone lined or having concrete shell. This would seem to be a gun emplacement or similar gun position. Two other, smaller pits are visible in amongst the trenches to the east.
S. Massey (NMP), 15 October 2004.