NHER 33953 (Monument record) - Site of the World War Two anti-torpedo-boat battery, South Pier, Gorleston on Sea

South Pier Head.
Site of gun battery 1940.
See (S1).
E. Rose (NLA) 5 November 1998.

THE CENTRAL GRID REFERENCE FOR THIS SITE HAS BEEN ALTERED FROM TG 5340 0371 TO TG 5341 0371.

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The site of the World War Two anti-torpedo-boat battery, located on the end of South Pier, Gorleston, is visible on aerial photographs (S2-S5). The site is centred on TG 5341 0371. The South Pier battery was established by 25th June 1940, with two 12-pounder guns installed to act as an anti-torpedo-boat defence. In mid-1941 one of the guns was moved to the Yarmouth side of the harbour to provide a wider field of fire (S1: p218), see NHER 42435 for details of this battery. One of the three searchlights for the Yarmouth batteries was positioned also on the end of the pier.

One large gun house is clearly visible positioned on the end of the pier in September 1940 (S2). Positioned either side are two large rectangular concrete structure, both approximately 8m by 4m. The southern structure is aligned along the length of the pier; the northern structure is aligned facing the South Denes inner harbour area. The exact purpose of these structures is not known, they may have housed operational activities or equipment, however they appear fairly substantial and have the appearance of large rectangular pillboxes. It is possible that these had loop-holed walls and provided additional gunfire along the beach. The southern rectangular structure has been removed by February 1941 (S3). By July 1944 an additional structure has been constructed on top of the main gun house, 3m by 2m (S4). It is possible that this is the housing for a coast artillery searchlight, one of the three searchlights acting for the Denes batteries. All of the battery structures have been removed by 1952 (S6).
S. Massey (NMP), 23 January 2006.