NHER 42455 (Monument record) - A World War Two barrage balloon site on the southern end of South Denes, Great Yarmouth

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two barrage balloon site is visible on aerial photographs from 1944 on the southern area of the South Denes, Great Yarmouth (S1)-(S2). The site consists of two concentric rings of concrete tethering blocks with a central balloon, and an associated operational building. A nissen hut and another ancillary building are also present. This barrage balloon site is located within a dense area of World War Two military defences, such as NHER 42435 and 43323. The site is centred on TG 5324 0389, although the actual balloon mooring is centred on TG 5323 0389. There are a great many barrage balloon moorings in the Great Yarmouth area, including a second on the Denes, located further north (NHER 42456), and another three in Gorleston-on-Sea (NHER 42281, 42291, 42457). 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 actual balloon is visible in May 1944 (S1) and this is moored to two full concentric rings of concrete circular blocks. 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. At TG 5324 0386 is a rectangular concrete base, 7m by 3m, upon which a structure is standing in May 1944 (S1), although this cannot be seen clearly. 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, 42456 to 42457. To the south of the barrage balloon are two structures, linked by a path. At TG 5326 0385 is a curved profile hut, measuring 12m by 5m, and this is probably a nissen hut. The second structure is 5m by 3.5m. These structures are located quite close to the buildings associated with the battery site to the immediate east (NHER 42435), however they are separated by a line of barbed wire and therefore more likely to be attached to the barrage balloon site, than the battery. This hut and rectangular structure probably provided accommodation and equipment stores for the barrage balloon site.
S. Massey (NMP), 25 January 2006.