NHER 38373 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two slit trenches and weapons pits on Kelling Heath

November 2003. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War two slit trenches and pits on Kelling Heath are visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1). All of these features are within an area enclosed by barbed wire defences (NHER 38382), which cover much of the Heath during World War Two. Although these sites would have had a definite defensive purpose, it seems that they were mainly constructed as part of training exercises in association with Weybourne Camp to the north.
The largest trench runs from TG 0986 4264 to TG 0994 4260. The ditch measures 120m long and between 1-2m wide, following a zigzag and curvilinear course. A smaller section of trench is visible running from TG 0990 4262 to TG 0989 4262, just to the south. These were possibly once interconnected, although no definite linking trench can be identified. Another more isolated trench runs from TG 0988 4255 to TG 0990 4255. To the east of the site are two further sections of zigzag trenches, running from TG 0994 4256 to TG 0998 4254, 54m long, and from TG 0994 4254 to TG 0996 4254, 30m long.
An alignment of elongated weapons pits are also visible, with three running from TG 0993 4258 to TG 0992 4259. The small rectangular trenches are 2.5-3m by 1m and are arranged in a line 4-7m apart. A fourth example is visible along the same alignment to the west, centred on TG 0988 4262.
S. Massey (NMP), 18 November 2003.