NHER 50773 (Monument record) - Probable World War Two military site around Hill Farm

January 2008. Norfolk NMP.
Earthworks, structures, patches of disturbance, and areas of unploughed land are visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred around TG 2572 1887. These may indicate a former World War Two military site, perhaps related to Coltishall Airfield (NHER 7697), which lies only 3km to the north. The site is relatively extensive, comprising several areas of ‘activity’, although in some cases these may be indicated only by an area of land which has been left unploughed, otherwise inexplicably. The site may have incorporated some accommodation for troops, as well as defensive installations and/or training grounds. A group of large, irregular pits and other earthworks at the eastern end of the site (around TG 2608 1880) may represent the former site of emplacements, for anti-aircraft guns or searchlights. Whether such features were operational or used for training is not clear. It is this part of the site that is most likely to be of military origin; other areas of activity visible to the west are difficult to distinguish from agricultural features, and may simply relate to poultry farming or a similar pursuit. This is particularly the case for those areas at the southwestern end of the site, close to The Hollies, but less so for the area to the north and east of Hill Farm. If military in origin, the small structures visible in these areas could represent domestic accommodation. On more recent aerial photographs of the area, e.g. (S3), there is evidence that some elements of the site could survive, in particular the earthworks at the eastern end of the site.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 4 January 2007.

January 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed aggregate extraction area.
This survey identified a number of discrete areas of magnetic disturbance that probably represent spreads of debris and/or areas of ground disturbance associated with this military site. These include a number at the eastern end of the site likely to correspond with the emplacements visible on aerial photographs. It is noted that an area of magnetic disturbance at TG 2567 1895 coincides with a spread of debris visible on the field surface.
See report (S4) and NHER 68261 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 April 2024.