NHER 42331 (Monument record) - A group of World War Two defensive structures and roadblocks at the junction of the Lowestoft and Springfield Roads, Gorleston-on-Sea

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two defensive structures and roadblocks are visible on aerial photographs at the junction of the Lowestoft and Springfield Roads and on the bridge over the former railway line at Gorleston-on-Sea (S1)-(S3). The Lowestoft Road represents the main southern route in and out of Gorleston and therefore blocking the bridge would have acted as a major impediment to invading troops. The site is centred on TG 5251 0354.

In 1941 the bridge appears to have been blocked by a short section of wall or a horizontal rail across half 0of the road (S1). This was accompanied by a structure, possible a gun emplacement or pillbox, measuring 3m across. The structure cannot be discerned clearly in 1941 and it has been removed by 1944 (S2), therefore little interpretation of the actual construction and it’s function can be made. It is light in colour and therefore may have been made of concrete. In front of this at the intersection with Springfield Road were another two roadblocks, again these appear to have been horizontal rails or similar moveable blockades. These have been removed by August 1944, leaving only scars visible in the road surface (S2).

A third horizontal bar roadblock is visible across the junction of Springfield and Victoria Road (S1), again removed by 1944 (S2). A rectangular structure, 3m by 2m, was constructed immediately next to this roadblock and may have been a checkpoint or Home Guard Post. This structure is still visible in 1965 (S4), but has been removed by 1978 (S5). At the western end of Springfield Road is another rectangular structure, measuring 3m by 2m appears to be sitting on a slightly larger concrete base. Two smaller structures are located to the immediate east in 1944 (S2). This structure is still visible in 1978 (S4), this survival could indicate that the structure was not military in origin, although this is not certain as many structures did not get demolished and remained in use in the post-war era.
S. Massey (NMP), 31 January 2006.