NHER 61543 (Monument) - Second World War military activity around Thetford Warren Lodge and Thetford golf course

February 2017. 'Brecks from Above' and Breckland National Mapping Programme.
Evidence of Second World War military activity (probably training) is visible on 1940s aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), concentrated around Thetford Warren Lodge, but extending along Brandon Road and across much of Thetford golf course. Some elements have previously been recorded individually (NHER 56137, NHER 56144, NHER 58284) but are now included within this larger site. The site has been mapped principally by extent; only the larger, more distinctive features have been mapped individually (the large pits and trenches around Thetford Warren Lodge, some lengths of possible fence either side of the path at TL 8442 8417). Other features of Second World War date are in general difficult to distinguish with any certainty from banks and trackways of earlier date (NHER 61542), and pits and platforms created for the golf course, but disturbed ground and vehicle tracks suggest a military presence. A line of rectangular pits (not mapped) along each side of Brandon Road are likely to be of Second World War date; they were probably left after huts, similar to those recorded to the northwest (NHER 62121) were removed. It is clear from imagery from a lidar survey flown in 2015 (S3) that a proportion of the Second World War features still survive as earthworks.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 16 February 2017.