NHER 39193 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two military activity

January 2005. Norfolk NMP.
An area of World War Two military activity is visible as extant structures, earthworks and disturbed ground on aerial photographs (S1-9), centred at TG 3093 3707. Between 1940 and 1946, pits, emplacements, anti-tank cubes, barbed wire and other structures were erected at the site. Some of these were contemporary with and perhaps related to the emergency coast defence battery (NHER 14142) which dominated the site by 1943. The site is one of several such groups of defensive features to have been identified in the vicinity. The line of coastal defences was continued to the north-west by barbed wire and other features sited along the cliff top (NHER 39197). To the south-east areas of military activity on the cliff top and cliff face (NHER 39195) were probably linked to the site described here.

In 1940 only a few features are visible (S1-2). At TG 3102 3703, sited at the corner of a field, is a structure, possibly a gun emplacement. A pit at TG 3096 3698 may also be a military feature, perhaps a weapons pit. A slit trench (NHER 39192) at TG 3085 3707 may be related to training activity and consequently has been recorded separately. By 16 July 1941 (S3) a concrete emplacement or similar structure has been constructed at TG 3087 3707, presumably to guard the track to its west. Two structures are visible in the grounds of the Grand Hotel (at TG 3084 3705); these are probably military but their function is not known. A line of possible anti-tank blocks and some short lengths of what may be barbed wire are visible at TG 3086 3705; two further possible anti-tank blocks, visible at TG 3088 3705 on photographs taken in 1968 (S9) may also date to this period. Some of these blocks may now lie by the boundary wall of the Grand Hotel (NHER 32621). By 30 July 1941 (S4) a pit is visible at TG 3096 3703, perhaps indicating the removal of a military structure. Tracks and patches of disturbed ground are visible across much of the area; on the photographs taken on 30 July this includes a circular parchmark surrounding a grid of parchmarks (neither have been mapped) which might also relate to military activity.

The emergency coast battery and its ancillary buildings (NHER 14142) are first visible on aerial photographs taken in January 1943 (S5). Unfortunately these photographs are not clear enough to show much detail of the site. Several new features visible by 1946 (S6-8), however, are likely to relate to the defence of the battery. They comprise two possible spigot mortar emplacements, one to the east of the battery at TG 3098 3704, and one to its west at TG 3084 3708. The latter overlies the end of the slit trench (NHER 39192), now backfilled, which was visible on the 1940 aerial photographs. At TG 3086 3710 a rather polygonal parchmark surrounding a central pit may mark the site of a demolished and/or backfilled pillbox or emplacement. Since 1946 part of the site has been lost to coastal erosion, while other parts have had various uses. Other than the coastal battery itself (NHER 14142) and the displaced anti-tank blocks (NHER 32621), no upstanding military remains are apparent on recent aerial photographs of the area.
(S1-9)
S. Tremlett (NMP), 7 January 2005.