NHER 39182 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two anti-invasion defences

January 2005. Norfolk NMP.
World War Two anti-invasion defences on Mundesley seafront are visible as extant structures, earthworks and buildings on aerial photographs (S1-5), predominantly centred at TG 3160 3658. The defences stretch between TG 3168 3652 to the south-east and TG 3144 3672 to the north-west, an area which comprised most of the contemporary seafront; certainly, the defences are sited to cover all the main access points between the beach and seafront, and the town. The defences appear to be a cumulative arrangement, some features being visible on aerial photographs taken in 1940 (S1-2), but most seem to have been in place by July 1941 (S3-4). There is no evidence that any of the different elements survive today; some of the anti-tank blocks may have been reused in the post-war coastal defences, in this case against erosion rather than military invasion.

The main area of defences is centred at TG 3160 3658, blocking the sloped access tracks between Beach Road and the beach. Possible horizontal rails or other barriers are visible at TG 3162 3657 and TG 3159 3658 on aerial photographs taken in 1940 (S1). By 1941 (S3-4) a row of at least seven anti-tank blocks can be seen, with a line of barbed wire on its seaward side and further concrete blocks and barriers to the north-west. Overlooking this blockade (at TG 3159 3660) and also visible in 1941 is a pillbox; this appears to be polygonal in plan, although its exact form is not clear, and it may have a gun or other structure mounted on its roof (compare NHER 15115). To its west (at TG 3157 3661) is an unidentified structure, possibly a gun or spigot mortar emplacement, although a non-military function cannot be ruled out. To the south-east (at TG 3168 3652) is a second pillbox or gun emplacement; this is probably the same structure as that visible on the beach (at approximately TG 3170 3653) on later aerial photographs (S6-7).

To the north-west of the main area, further anti-tank blocks are visible at TG 3155 3663 on photographs taken in 1940 (S1). They are positioned within a cutting which appears to have been moved to the west in the post-war period (compare S8 to modern Ordnance Survey maps). The two north-eastern blocks may have been removed by later in 1940 (S2); the south-western blocks seem to have remained in place until at least 1946 (S5-6). Further to the north-west (at TG 3151 3666) is a possible slit trench, again visible on the 1940 photographs (S1-2). This leads down from the cliff edge to a building on the seafront, presumably a large pillbox or gun emplacement, which was removed by 1946. At the south-western end of the site, again blocking an access route from the beach to the cliff top, a group of at least five anti-tank blocks are visible. They have been mapped as they appear on photographs taken on 30 July 1941 (S4), but a different arrangement can be seen on both earlier (S3) and later (S5) photographs.
(S1-8)
S. Tremlett (NMP), 4 January 2005.