NHER 52020 (Monument record) - World War Two military camp or headquarters, Keswick Old Hall

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two military camp or headquarters is visible on aerial photographs (S1-S6) at Keswick Old Hall (NHER 9760). The site consists of a number of Nissen or similar type huts, arranged within two groups and possible air raid shelters. The site is centred on TG 2070 0417. The Mulbarton parish history states that soldiers were billeted in many of the large country houses near Mulbarton (S7), approximately 3.5 km to the southeast, and this is likely to have included Keswick Hall. The huts are visible on the earliest available aerial photographs dating to 1942 (S1). Histories of the hall indicate that Mrs Gurney, the then inhabitant of the hall, died in 1940 and it is possible that the hall, which was eventually offered as the home of the Norwich Training School in 1948 (see NHER 9760 for details), was donated by Quinton Gurney of Bawdeswell for military use after this date, although it is possible that the camp was officially requisitioned prior to this with Mrs Gurney continuing to live at the hall. Given the small size of the military site and the lack of visible military features within the hall grounds it is possible that the former scenario is the more likely. The presence of numerous trucks parked within the grounds of the hall in September 1945 (S2) indicates that this site was still in use, perhaps undertaking some form of post-war distribution of materials or decommissioning of nearby military sites and structures. No vehicles are visible at this location on the 1942 aerial photographs (S1), again potentially indicating that the function of the site had altered.
Two large Nissen huts, 12m by 5m, are located to the west of the hall at TG 2070 0417. Although these two huts are not camouflaged in any way, their positioning within the existing building ranges associated with the hall means that they are not immediately noticeable. Within the wooded area to the north of the park, a further four Nissen huts of comparable size were constructed, hidden amongst the trees (S3). These are centred on TG 2071 0422. A possible seventh structure beside the edge of the trees at TG 2064 0414 (immediately adjacent to the truck parking bays) may be visible on the aerial photographs from September 1945 (S2), however it is possible that this is non-military in function. The huts next to the hall are partially dismantled by 1947 (S5) and have been removed by 1951 (S6). It is feasible that the Nissen huts within the woods to the north could have remained past this date, but the huts immediately adjacent to the hall have certainly gone by this date, just prior to the hall becoming the home of the Norwich Training School in 1948. A possible air raid shelter may also be identified at the site, partially hidden within the gardens and outbuildings of the hall. At TG 2071 0413 is a metal-roofed structure that appears to have the same roof profile as the nearby huts. This measures approximately 5m long by 3m wide. Immediately adjacent to this possible Nissen segment is an elongated vegetation-covered area (indicated on the NMP mapping by an ‘extent of area’ polygon). Whilst it is entirely possible that this feature merely represents an overgrown area in amongst the outbuildings, it is feasible that this represents an earthen covered component to an air raid shelter. Two small trenches located to the west of the hall at TG 2066 0409 and TG 2069 0410 are likely to represent the remains of small trench shelters dug for use as air raid shelter, although it is possible that they served another defensive or training function. A number of disturbed and cleared areas of grass are visible within the Hall grounds in September 1945, along with the remains of a football pitch (S2). However it is impossible to discern whether any of these relate to actual military activities. No comparable features are visible in 1942 (S1).
S. Horlock (NMP), 24 March 2009.