NHER 27475 (Monument record) - World War Two Coastal Gun Battery, Nova Scotia Farm, West Caister

July 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Remains of a World War Two 6 inch coastal gun battery are visible on aerial photographs (S1) to (S3). This battery is located at Nova Scotia Farm, West Caister and lies at TG 5094 1336. Although it is situated nearly 1.5km inland the battery lies on a hill at over 15m OD giving it a clear view out to sea.
This appears to have been an emergency coastal gun battery constructed in 1940 to defend Great Yarmouth harbour (S7). The two 6 inch guns were installed in sandbag casemates, an arrangement typical of many emergency batteries (S5). Two brick and concrete casemates replaced these, but it is doubtful that any new guns were installed and the battery went out of use in 1941(S6). No mention of this gun battery was recorded in a gazetteer of such sites (S6) and its temporary status may mean that it is difficult to identify surviving World War Two official documents.
No aerial photographs are available showing the area of the battery whilst it was operational. The earliest aerial photographs showing the area date to May 1944 (S4). Unfortunately the buildings at the battery are concealed in woodland and are not visible on these aerial photographs. As the battery was out of use by 1944, any barbed wire or other defences surrounding it appear to have been removed by that date.
The two gun casemates appear to still survive and are visible on post war aerial photographs (S1) to (S3) as well as being marked on current Ordnance Survey maps. They are T shape in plan and measure approximately 10m by 10m. Both of the casemates face towards the southeast, which seems to support their intended role in the defence of Great Yarmouth harbour. If the battery had been designed to serve a solely coastal defence role, east facing casemates would have been more logical. A Nissen hut is present to the west of the two casemates. This building also appears to survive on the aerial photographs (S1) to (S3) and Ordnance Survey mapping.
J. Albone (NMP), 20 July 2005

Site visited July 2008. Both casemates survive, although eaterly casemate shoing some delamination in the concrete, with some spalling and visible reinforcement. Both used as farm stores. Nissen hut survives, although both gables replaced with corrugated iron doors. Used as farm stores (interior inaccessible at time of visit).
K. Hamilton (NLA) 5 December 2008