NHER 38335 (Monument record) - Site of World War One military trenches and a possible World War Two structure

December 2003. Norfolk NMP.
A series of eight possible World War One military trenches are visible on the cliff top. These can be seen on RAF aerial photographs from 1941 (S1). The earthworks consist of crenellated and zigzag trenches covering an area of 250m along the cliff, running from TG 1707 4332 to TG 1729 4330. The clearest crenellated trench runs from TG 17134 43311 to TG 17178 43296, measuring 75m in length. The trenches to the east of the site appear to be more zigzag in plan. The clearest of these is 55m in length and runs from TG 17245 43316 to TG 17291 43306. Generally crenellated trenches are World War One in date and the zigzag ones are World War Two, although this distinction does not always seem to apply. None of these trenches show signs of being in recent use in 1941 and the zigzag trenches do not appear to be of a newer construction to those crenellated ones. Therefore it seems likely that all of these trenches are World War One in date. It is possible that these were partly constructed as a training exercise, although they have an obvious defensive purpose as well. These earthworks no longer survive due to cliff fall.
At TG 17111 43284 is a rectangular structure measuring 3.5m by 3m. This appears to be military in origin and may be a pillbox or similar feature, although it is not clear whether it is also World War One in date. It is possible that this structure forms part of the later World War Two defences.
S. Massey (NMP), 17 December 2004.

See NHER 41559 and report (S2).
J. Allen (NLA), 25 April 2005.