NHER 42293 (Monument record) - World War Two bomb craters and gun emplacements on the West Quay, Gorleston on Sea

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two bomb craters and later gun emplacements are visible on aerial photographs along the West Quay between Riverside Road and Bell’s Marsh Road, Gorleston. (S1) to (S3). The site is centred on TG 5288 0432. These structures probably would have been part of the military defences for the harbour and quayside.

Bell’s Marsh Road was bombed quite early in the war, August 24th 1940 (S4). At TG 5288 0414 a bomb crater is visible in February 1941 (S1) and it likely that it dates to that episode. To the south of this definite crater, at TG 5287 0409, is a possible further crater, although it appears to have a central structure, possibly suggesting a gun pit, with a surrounding bank and entrance to the east (S1). It is possible that a small crater was reused a gun emplacement the following year. A further possible gun emplacement is visible to the north at TG 5290 0419 in 1944-5 (S2) and (S3). This site consists of a small central pit, surrounded by a low circular bank, 4m wide. A small weapons pit is also visible 20m to the southeast.

This site has since been completely redeveloped and built over, it is therefore unlikely that any of these features survive.
S. Massey (NMP), 06 January 2006.