NHER 27276 (Monument record) - World War Two defences

March 2005. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two defences are visible as earthworks and structures on aerial photographs (S1-6), from TG 5134 1576 to TG 5144 1555. The earliest elements, visible in August 1940 (S1), comprise two concrete structures, probably gun emplacements, sited at the base of the cliff (at TG 5142 1562). These were protected on their seaward side by a line of barbed wire or beach scaffolding (NHER 27278). By December 1940 a small, circular earthwork is visible at the top of the cliff (at TG 5140 1562). This is not clearly visible until 1945 (S5) but it may mark the site of a camouflaged, semi-sunken pillbox or similar structure; traces of concrete are visible here on aerial photographs taken in 1953 (S6). By February 1941 (S3) a slit trench had been excavated to the north (at TG 5136 1569) and an earthwork emplacement, presumably for a gun, thrown up to the south (at TG 5141 1556). The latter appears to have been levelled by May 1944 (S4), by which time a line of barbed wire had been erected along the cliff top. Later aerial photographs (e.g. S5-6) show that the remaining features were levelled and/or removed soon after the end of the war, although traces of some elements may remain.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 17 March 2005.

(S7) reproduces a photograph of 1951 showing the gun mounting intact on one of the concrete structures.
E. Rose (NLA), 2 February 2007.