NHER 38389 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two military structure

December 2003. Norfolk NMP.
An unusual World War Two earthwork site is visible on Kelling Heath on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1) and (S2). It consists of a large, roughly ovoid mound centred on TG 0998 4213 and measuring 17m by 11.5m. Into this mound several roughly rectangular chambers have been cut, these are all approximately 4m across. The dug in chambers are all conjoined and appear to have an entrance ‘corridor’ to the north west. The function of this structure is not known and it would appear to be an unfinished, even by the 1950 RAF aerial photographs (S2). The construction would suggest that it may have been intended to be completely covered and therefore similar to an underground or semi-sunken shelter of some sort, partly surrounded by an earth revetment or blast bank. This construction was also presumably part of training exercises on the heath. Further investigation on the ground may reveal the purpose of this structure. The earthworks are still fairly clear on Ordnance Survey vertical aerial photographs from 1969 (S3), so it appears to have survived any immediately post World War Two military activity on the heath.
S. Massey (NMP), 8 December 2003.

January 2007. Norfolk NMP.
Military records indicate that the Battle Headquarters of the 53rd Infantry Brigade was located on the southern edge of Kelling Heath (S4). No such feature is visible on the aerial photographs, although it may have been well camouflaged or removed by 1946. However it is also possible that this site represent the remains of this site, indicating that the location has been wrongly recorded.
S. Massey (NMP), 10 January 2007.