NHER 42457 (Monument) - A World War Two barrage balloon site, Elmhurst Close, Gorleston-on-Sea

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two barrage balloon site is visible on aerial photographs from 1944-5 (S1)-(S3), located on ground between the old Gorleston railway station and the Gorleston holiday camp, now Elmhurst Close. The site consists of three concentric rings of concrete tethering blocks with a central balloon, and an associated operational building. A nissen hut and another two ancillary buildings are also present. The barrage balloon site is located on the northern edge of the Gorleston holiday camp, which was commandeered by the military during the war. To the immediate south of the holiday camp was a large anti-aircraft battery, see NHER 32668 for details. There are a great many barrage balloon moorings in the Great Yarmouth area, including two on South Denes (NHER 42455 and 42456), and another two in Gorleston-on-Sea (NHER 42281 and 42291). The siting of these would suggest that they have been placed around the perimeter of the main town and harbour area, that which required the greatest defence. The site is centred on TG 5301 0471, although the actual balloon mooring is centred on TG 5302 0471.

The inflated balloon is visible in May 1944 (S1) and this is moored to two full concentric rings of concrete circular blocks, with an incomplete third ring in-between. The central base for the balloon is hexagonal, with a ring of rectangular concrete blocks, each block placed on the angle of the hexagon, with a square feature in the centre (S3). At 5249 0322 is a rectangular structure, 4.5m by 3m, located on top of a concrete base. It seems likely that this building is associated with the operation of the site. The remains of similar structures was identified at the other barrage balloon sites in Gorleston-on-Sea, see NHER 42281, 42291, 42455 to 42456.

To the east of the barrage balloon are several rectangular structures. At TG 5249 0324 is a curved profile hut, measuring 11m by 5m, and this is probably a nissen hut. These huts and ancillary structures probably provided accommodation and equipment stores for the barrage balloon site. In May 1944 a group of structures and earthworks are visible centred on TG 5250 0325 (S1). Unfortunately none of theses features are visible on later aerial photographs and the May 1944 aerial photograph is not particularly clear. One possible feature appears to be a low circular mound or defined area, 16m in diameter, with a central concrete circular base, 4m across. To the immediate west of this is a triangular base or mark on the ground surface. The function of these structures is not known and they appear to relate to military activity on the site that predates the barrage balloon site. Nothing was visible at this location in 1941 (S4).
S. Massey (NMP), 25 January 2006.