NHER 27476 (Monument record) - World War Two defences and structures

July 2005. Norfolk NMP.
World War Two defences and structures associated with the military use of a holiday camp are visible on contemporary aerial photographs (S1 to S5). This site was centred on TG 5161 1316.

Like other holiday camp sites on the Norfolk coast, this camp was taken over by the military early in World War Two. The military activity at this site is likely to be associated with that at Caister Camp (NHER 27478) to the northeast of Ormesby Road. A possible barbed wire defence is present along the south side of the site in August 1940 (S1). The site is partly visible on aerial photographs dating to December 1940 (S2). These show that a slit trench and weapons pit had been excavated at the site by that date and it is likely that the military buildings were also constructed around that time. The earliest aerial photographs to show the whole site date to May 1944 (S3). These show that seven military buildings had been constructed at the site to supplement the chalets that already existed.

Three of the buildings were rectangular in plan with projecting entrances at opposite corners. These buildings measured 10m long by 4m wide excluding the entrances. They are of a brick or concrete construction with flat concrete roofs. Buildings of this type are present at other holiday camp sites in Caister that were taken over by the military (NHER 27478 and 27511) but their function is unknown. Four other rectangular buildings with flat concrete roofs are also visible at the site. The function of these buildings is also unknown.

The full extent of the slit trenches at the site is also visible on the 1944 aerial photographs (S3). A zig zag slit trench extends for 120m between TG 5153 1319 and TG 5163 1326. Barbed wire is present along the northern side of this trench. A second slit trench, with a crenellated plan was also present along a field boundary on the southeast side of the site. It extended for 30m between TG 5162 1302 and TG 5165 1303. A further slit trench was located 120m to the northwest of the site (NHER 27472).

Some of the military buildings at the site survived until at least 1982 (S6) after which they were destroyed by housing development (S7).
J. Albone (NMP), 21 July 2005.