NHER 43362 (Monument record) - Site of World War One to Two firing range, Waveney Forest

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a World War One to Two date firing range is visible on aerial photographs on an area of heath or common, now referred to as the Waveney Forest (S1-S4). This site is located within a wider area of World War Two training features recorded under NHER 43361. The firing range is definitely in use and undergoes modification during World War Two, although the site does not appear to be newly constructed and therefore may be World War One in origin. Other World War One firing ranges are known to have been re-used during World War Two, see NHER 38315. A group of possible World War One trenches are located to the immediate north (NHER 43363). Another group of World War One trenches (NHER 43360) are located on Belton Common, approximately 1.8km to the northeast.
The firing range is centred on TG 4577 0030 and consists of a main target butt at TG 4570 0047, measuring 82m by 14m. To the immediate north of the butt is a narrow trench faced by a wall or a concrete frontage. The firing targets were presumably arrange along this trench and walled section. A bank provides cover from the western end of the butt towards a square structure, 7m across, at TG 4565 0043. To the south of the target butt are four firing butts, all approximately 90m apart. The constructions method and condition of these butts varies greatly. The one closest to the target appears to be just a raised bank or wall. The rest of the butts appear to be a closely set bank and trench. Although one butt has a wall or concrete construction instead of a bank. The furthest firing butt appears not to have been used as heavily and is cut through by a trackway which is obviously being used as part of the World War Two training. It is this relationship that may indicate that the firing range is originally World War One in date. Although it is possible that it dates to much earlier in World War Two. The aerial photographs indicate that the firing range is undergoing some modification in March 1944 (S1), although it is possible that the firing range is World War One in origin and has been modified and updated for use as part of the World War Two training site (NHER 43361).
Some of the firing butts are visible as earthworks in 1963 (S3) and the main target butt is still extant in 1970 (S4). A site visit would be needed to ascertain whether any of these earthworks still remain within the wood plantation.
S. Massey (NMP), 13 March 2006.