NHER 38426 (Monument record) - World War Two military site

October 2003. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two military structures and defences to the north of West Runton School, is visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1941 (S1) and 1946 (S2). NHER site 32525, a repositioned World War One pillbox at TG 1792 4298, forms the southern part of the site. Partially encircling this circular pillbox to the north is a curvilinear section of barbed wire. A similar arrangement of pillboxes and barbed wire has been constructed around the northeastern corner of the field. At TG 1792 4312 is a possible hexagonal structure measuring 4-5m across. To the immediate north is a second structure of a similar size. Neither of these structures can be seen clearly, which suggests that they were camouflaged or obscured by vegetation. However they appear to be pillboxes or similar defensive positions. These structures are at the centre of an oval enclosure of barbed wire, measuring 54m by 49m. To the west of them is a line of trenches following the field boundary from TG 17924 43123 to TG 17874 43117. Within this line at TG 1790 4312 is an oblong pit, 3.5m by 2m, which appears to be surrounded a bank or possibly a wall. At the western end of the trenches is a structure at TG 1787 4311, 5.5m by 2m. To the south east of this group of defences is a possible spigot mortar emplacement at TG 1793 4309, measuring 1m across and within a pit up to 2m in diameter.

Another pair of structures are situated to the south west of the site. At TG 1777 4297 is an L-shaped structure measuring 5m across. This also appears to be a defensive structure, possibly another pillbox. To the immediate north west is a second rectangular structure, measuring 4m by 2m.

All of these structures are situated along field boundaries around a rectangular field. In the centre of the field is a figure of eight trackway caused by recent persistent vehicle use. A structure is visible to the east of this track at TG 1781 4301, 3.5m by 3m, due east at TG 1788 4301, a similar shaped structure appears to have been recently removed. To the south of the track at TG 1790 4297, a rectangular of hard standing, 8m by 5m, indicates another removed building. It seems likely that this figure of eight shaped course relates to some form of military target training.
S. Massey (NMP) 26 November 2004.