NHER 38952 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two pillbox

November 2004. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two pillbox is visible as a standing structure on aerial photographs (S1-4), centred at TG 2837 3870. It was mapped from photographs taken in 1952, when it had lost its superstructure and its plan was therefore visible. It seems to have been a modified version of a Type 27 pillbox (S5), with an internal slot or structure (mapped as a ditch) which may have formed part of a mounting for a gun. It was larger than other pillboxes mapped in the area, measuring approximately 6m wide. Its overall layout is similar to that of another Type 27 pillbox (recorded, presumably erroneously, as a Type 28) at Oulton (NHER 12733).
It should be noted that a gazetteer of World War Two sites (S6) records a coastal defence searchlight, now demolished, close to this site (at TG 2835 3874). The searchlight site, which is not visible on aerial photographs, could have been associated, or confused, with the pillbox described here.
(S1-6)
S. Tremlett (NMP), 3 November 2004.

December 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Comparison with other sites, such as NHER 43313, which have been identified by Roger Thomas of English Heritage suggests that the ‘pillbox’ described above is instead a World War Two Direction Finding station. It would have formed part of the ‘Coastal System’ of such sites, which were used as navigation aids by Allied aircraft.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 17 December 2006.