NHER 52418 (Monument record) - Possible World War Two training site

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
Two rectangular earthwork pits are visible on aerial photographs to the east of Wellbeck Bridge to the north of Brooke (S1). The date and function of these pits is uncertain, but may relate to World War Two weapons pits or similar training features or earthworks relating post medieval industrial activity. The site is centred on TG 2968 0008. The site consists of the earthworks of two pits, one is square and 4m across and the other is sub-rectangular and measures 3m by 2.5m. Each pit is surrounded by banks of upcast. A possible circular feature may also be visible in-between the two pits.
Although the earthworks do not look freshly excavated the banks do show some signs of relatively recent disturbance and it is therefore possible that they relate to military excavations, potentially dug for training purposes, earlier in World War Two. An alternative interpretation could be that they relate to some sort of industrial activity, although the pits do not have the appearance of extraction of any sort. Given the sites location within an area of scrub, potentially former woodland in close proximity to a number of ‘kiln’ placenames, in particular Lower Kiln Lane, it is feasible that the earthworks relate to brick making and the site of former kilns.
S. Horlock (NMP), 03 November 2009.