NHER 42435 (Monument record) - World War Two coastal anti-torpedo boat battery and underground shelters, South Denes, Great Yarmouth harbour

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a World War Two coastal battery and underground shelters are visible on aerial photographs on the southern end of South Denes, overlooking the harbour mouth (S1)-(S2). A 12-pounder gun is recorded as having been moved here in mid 1941 from the anti-torpedo-boat battery located on the end of South Pier, NHER 33953, to provide a wider field of fire (S3).The site is centred on TG 5330 0388. The underground shelters for the battery have been constructed around an existing café building. One of the searchlights for the battery and a light anti-aircraft gun emplacement are visible to the south of the main shelters.

The main battery buildings are centred on TG 5329 0387 and are constructed around the café on the southern end of the Denes. The café itself appears to have been incorporated into the military installation, as a large concrete structure abuts the rear wall of the café and a concrete face can be seen projecting out of the café façade. Although it is possible that the anti-torpedo gun has been placed within the actual café, this seems unlikely given the amount of additional military construction that has taken place. However an existing house at the Cromer Coastal Battery (NHER 32566) was also incorporated into one of the gun houses, although in this case a larger structure was built onto the front of the house. Another, more likely, possibility for the 12-pounder gun house is the 6m square concrete structure to the immediate south of the café. This potentially has a front face that could provide commanding views of the harbour entrance and the coast. It is the surrounded by the earthen revetment and is conjoined to the underground shelters at the rear of the café.

The underground shelters consist of an I-shaped arrangement of three conjoined rectangular concrete structures, all approximately 9m by 4m. There are at least five large entrances leading into these structures. The underground structures are all surrounded by a wide earth revetment and have a series of circular shafts or vents projecting out of the roof. These underground structures presumably comprise a series of shelters, magazines, stores and other operational rooms. To the rear of the underground shelters is a pair of curved-profile huts, probably nissens or similarly designed huts; one is 15m by 7.5m and the other, 11m by 6m. In 1944 a further three possible structures may be visible to the rear of the site (S1), in-between the barbed wire and scaffolding (NHER 43323). However these have been removed on later aerial photographs that show the site in more detail and therefore little can be said of their function.

On the end of the promenade in front of the battery, at TG 5334 0384, is a large light anti-aircraft (LAA) emplacement, possibly for the static Bofors machine gun recorded at having been used at this site (S3). Although it is feasible that this is the emplacement for the 12-pounder gun moved from the South Pier. The emplacement consists of a rectangular emplacement, measuring 6.5m by 4m, surrounded by a wide, angular earth revetment. This emplacement has a rectangular recess for the predictor and ammunition stores. The rectangular covered section to the east of the entrance would have housed a covered shelter for gun maintenance (S4). The central gun mounting is also visible.

At TG 5332 0383 is possibly one of the searchlight emplacements for the battery. In 1944 a rectangular structure, 4m by 3.5m, is visible within a rectilinear barbed wire enclosure (S1). This central feature has been removed by 1945 and a circular area of disturbed ground is visible (S2). It seems likely that this circular area defines the turning circle of a mobile searchlight, possibly on a trailer or similar vehicle. A second circular area of disturbed ground is located behind the shelters at TG 5328 0388 (S1). No central structure is visible on any of the aerial photographs within this feature. An additional searchlight emplacement is visible in 1944 further north along the Denes, see NHER 43324 for details.
S. Massey (NMP), 2 March 2006.