NHER 38379 (Monument record) - Post medieval and World War Two earthworks

October 2003. Norfolk NMP.
Group of military earthworks located on summit of Telegraph Hill visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1) and 1950 (S2). The actual top of the hill appears to be enclosed by a rectangular ditch, centred on TG 1029 4247, measuring 48.5m by 21m. One of the access tracks leads up to the south-western corner of this and partly obscures the ditch. The northern edge of this feature appears to have a slight bank on the outer side, running along the top of the slope. Within this enclosed area is a possible gun emplacement or similar earthwork. A sunken rectangular feature, measuring 4m by 3m is centred on TG 1029 4248, this has a slight ditched extension to the east, 2m long and 1m. This appears to act as an ‘funnel’ entrance into the central area. A 0.5-1m wide bank surrounds this rectangular pit on three sides, with only the western edge remaining open. To the immediate north of this is a rectangular ditch, 3.5m by 1m, running alongside the bank.
A similar embanked feature is visible just to the south of the enclosed summit area, at TG 1028 4246. The feature consists of rectangular enclosure measuring 8m by 6m, formed by a bank 1m across. An oblong ditch/sunken area has been dug within the centre, measuring 4m by 1.5m. It seems likely that this is also a gun position of some sort. To the north east of these features, situated on the slope of the hill, is a slit trench. This runs in a zigzag from 10309 42500 to TG 10357 42491 and measures 55m long. The trench is for the most part 1.5m wide, although the ditch forms a bulbous end to the west. This appears to be a conjoined pit 4m by 3m.
It is assumed that the majority of these features are World War II in date, although it is possible given that this was recorded as a beacon site, that they may have been various structures on the summit in the past. The location of the possible Napoleonic signal house (NHER 6303) has been placed to the south of here from map evidence. Although it would seem more likely that it would have been on the summit of Telegraph Hill, rather than on the lower slopes. On the 1588 map of the defences constructed around Weybourne to defend against the Armada (S3), a look out post is depicted on the top of the hill, which is labelled ‘Flag Staff Hill (lookout)’. Obviously the map cannot necessarily be taken literally as this may depict defences planned rather than what was actually constructed. However it seems likely that the hill would have been used as a lookout and signalling post throughout the history of Weybourne. It is therefore possible that the World War Two training sites and defences are obscuring earlier structures relating to this signal site. The possible rectangular enclosure situated right on the top of the peak may well be an earlier feature.
S.Massey (NMP), 19 November 2003.

(NHER 38379)
January 2007. Norfolk NMP.
Military records indicate that Telgraph Hill was used by the Royal Artillery as an observation post. It is therefore possible that some of the features mapped relate to this site (S4). The rectangular enclosure, mentioned above, corresponds with a boundary on the Ordnance Survey Second Edition Map (1902-7), indicating that it pre-dates the World War Two activity at the site. Although the actual date of the enclosure is not known, neither is its relationship to the suggested post medieval signalling structures.
S. Massey (NMP), 10 January 2007.