NHER 42298 (Monument record) - World War Two defences at Riverside Road and Dock Tavern Lane junction, Gorleston on Sea

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two gun emplacements, defences and weapons pits are visible on aerial photographs along the West Quay at Riverside Road and Dock Tavern Lane junction, Gorleston (S1) to (S2). The site is centred on TG 5283 0445, although this point does not correspond to an archaeological feature on the ground. The earliest component of the site is a row of three earthwork emplacements, positioned along a post medieval or early modern boundary and centred on TG 5286 0443. These were probably for light machine gun positions. The emplacement nearest the quayside is the largest, forming a semi-circular embankment, up to 4m thick. These earthwork gun emplacements have been completely removed by 1945 (S2). At TG 5281 0450 another semi-circular earthwork gun emplacement is visible in 1945 (S2). This consists of an oval pit, 4.5m long, surrounded by a semi-circular embankment to the west. The emplacment is located to the immediate north of a possible air raid shelter, see NHER 42294 for details. This emplacement is not constructed by February 1941 (S1), although it is possibly visible in 1944, although the site is not as clear as in 1945, due to the difference in the quality of the photography. At TG 5281 0444 and TG 5279 0444 is a pair of oval weapons pits, both approximately 3m by 2m.

At TG 5285 0440 is a small square concrete base, 3m across, a second, much smaller, concrete square feature, 0.5m across, is also visible to the immediate north. It is possible that these features relate to a former military structure, already removed by February 1941 (S1). Although it is also possible that it relates to an older post medieval industrial feature.
S. Massey (NMP), 06 January 2006.