NHER 54394 (Monument record) - World War Two factory and/or depot

July 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a factory and/or depot within the grounds of Drayton Hall and to the south of Drayton High Road is visible on aerial photographs dating to the Second World War (S1-5). The site is centred on TG 1825 1355. The yards around the site reveal immense piles of felled trees and stock piles of wood and other materials. The factory buildings and sheds have camouflaged roofs and a number of large earthen-covered air raid shelters are visible within the southern part of the site. A smaller group of air raid shelter are also located on the northeastern periphery of the site. These get constructed after April 1942 (S1), and possible also not even by May 1944 (S3) or are hard to confidently discern on the aerial photographs.
Within the northern part of the site a number of temporary huts, some are nissen-type huts, and structures have been erected around the edges of an area of the trees near the Hall. These get constructed in-between April 1942 and May 1844 (S1-S3). These structures were not mapped individually, rather an extent of area has been defined. Another more substantial group of interconnected military buildings, which have a more operational appearance, are just visible beneath tree cover at TG 1812 1355. Within the southern part of the site more nissen-type huts are also visible, the number of which increase between 1942 and May 1944 (again these have not mapped individually). The site continues in use, and possibly even expands, post-war (S5), indicating that it was not merely for wartime use.
S. Horlock (NMP), 21 July 2010.