NHER 38325 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two military training area

Features observed during Rapid Identification Survey (S4) given individual HER numbers (57895-57904). 38325 remains a parent number for the overall practice area.

September 2003. Norfolk NMP.
A group of 'pits', covering a large area of about 500m by 200m at its maximum extents, is centred on NGR TG1796 4166 (in the area of scrub/woodland to the northwest of Roman Camp). These are visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946. They are located fairly near to large areas of other pits; which are the remains of iron working of probable Late Saxon/medieval date. However, these look very fresh and are more likely to be connected to World War Two military activity. The aerial photographs are not overly clear and there are no evident slit trenches within them (though this cannot be entirely ruled out), as was clear elsewhere (for example, see NHER 28239). It is possible, therefore, that these are bomb/firing craters created through practice exercises. The area has been plotted as an extent of area as no individual 'pits' were really clear enough for plotting on their own.

As well as these features, in a nearby field there are the remains of several practice trenches (and other ditched features) showing as cropmarks. These are located at and around NGR TG1813 4181, TG1825 4173, TG1830 4173, TG1825 4167 and TG1825 4171. A short stretch of linear bank is also visible (at TG1820 4190 to TG1826 4192). The whole of this area is outlined with an extent of area, as there are other potential cropmark features to be seen in the area, which were not clear enough to plot in detail. (Much of this field has subsequently been built over.)
H. Clare (NMP) 22 September 2003.