NHER 43323 (Monument record) - World War Two coastal defences and military training areas on South Denes

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A large area of World War Two coastal anti-invasion defences and military training features is visible as earthworks and standing structures on aerial photographs on the South Denes, Great Yarmouth (S1)-(S4). This site consists of large stretches of barbed wire and anti-tank scaffolding obstructions, slit trenches and gun emplacements. Several groups of military buildings are also visible, including several underground structures and shelters, see NHER 43332 and 43333. Also present on the South Denes during World War Two were two barrage balloon sites (NHER 42455 to 42456), a coastal battery (NHER 42435), searchlight emplacements (NHER 43324) and a variety of pillboxes and spigot mortar emplacements (NHER 27604, 43334 and 43343). The whole site is centred on TG 5310 0462.

There are four discrete minefields visible that have been laid in-between February 1941 and 1944 (S2)-(S3). These are centred on TG 5300 0481, TG 5311 0483, TG 5307 0456 and TG 5322 0399 and are shown on the NMP map as an ‘extent of area’ rather than each mine being mapped. Two of the minefields are either side of the World War Two fuel storage tanks, NHER 43340.

The Denes shows much evidence for pit and trench digging, probably serving both a training and defensive function. Centred on TG 5327 0432 is a group of extremely straight slit trenches. These have flat sides and bottoms, presumably dug with a mechanical digger. These get dug in-between July 1944 and October 1945 (S3)-(S4). It seems likely that they formed as part of a training exercise. Another group of trenches have been dug in the northern edge of the harbour mouth. These consist of a series of wide scoops or cuts down from the South Denes Road to the bay. Again these are likely to have been associated with a training exercise, perhaps involving the launching or loading of vessels on the beach. A bomb crater is located amongst these features.

There are also many smaller and isolated slit trenches scattered around the Denes, many of which are visible on the February 1941 aerial photographs (S2) and pre-date much of the military features on the Denes. The longest trench runs from TG 5329 0409 to TG 5331 0397. Centred on TG 5315 0454 is a slightly irregular-shaped trench system, surrounded by several slot weapons pits. The largest group of earthworks on the South Denes is centred on TG 5310 0500 and consists of a wide spread of weapons pits, small slit trenches, bomb craters and eight oblong and oval embanked gun emplacements. These are all around 6m by 4m and have a 1m wide bank surrounded three sides of the gun pit. A spigot mortar emplacement is located at TG 5309 0490 in amongst this group of pits and emplacements. Another two are located further to the south at TG 5327 0408 and at TG 5332 0402.

The whole of the South Denes area is enclosed with barbed wire and scaffolding obstructions. These are mainly erected in-between February 1941 and 1944 (S2)-(S3). Although some barbed wire defences are visible in 1940 to the north of the site (S1), these have been removed by February 1941 (S2). In 1944 the scaffolding divides the South Denes into two areas at approximately TG 5300 0521. The World War Two defences to the north of this have been recorded under NHER 27638. The scaffolding then splits the South Denes into two halves, eastern and western, running from south towards the North Pier and the coastal battery site (NHER 42435). Additional stretches of barbed wire obstruction form further defences and section off areas of the Denes.

There are several groups of huts and structures, at TG 5328 0406 and at TG 5323 0383. Centred on TG 5316 0424 is a cluster of concrete bases or hardstanding, indicating the location of former military structures. There are two 87m long sheds alongside the quay, one at TG 5305 0427 and another at TG 5307 0414. It is not entirely clear whether these are military in origin, it is possible that they relate the workings of the harbour and pre-date World War Two. They are not marked on the plan of the World War One Naval sea plane station on the Denes, see NHER 13631 for details. In 1941 there is a row of small square structures along the bay on the inner edge of the northern harbour mouth (S2). These are centred on TG 5312 0394 and are 3m across. The exact purpose of these is not known, although it is possible that they are anti-invasion defences, such as large cubes. However they are uncharacteristically dark in colour and do not have the appearance of concrete. There are also two possible groups of anti-tank cubes visible along the inner mouth of the harbour in 1945, at TG 5320 0386 and TG 5327 0382 (S4). There is also a large group of cubes visible on the land end of the North Pier at TG 5336 0382. Interestingly they are not visible on the earlier aerial photographs, which could suggest that they have been shipped in from elsewhere, perhaps for use in the sea defences and sea walls at the end of the Pier.
S. Massey (NMP), 6 March 2006.