NHER 27508 (Monument record) - World War Two military camp and defences

July 2005. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two military camp and beach defences are visible on contemporary and later aerial photographs (S1 to S5). These defences were centred on TG 5265 1235 at the site of Caister Manor House Hotel.

Like other hotels and holiday camps on the Norfolk coast, the Manor House Hotel at Caister was occupied by the army at the start of World War Two (S6). The earliest military activity at the site is visible on aerial photographs dating to December 1940 (S1). By that date a large rectangular hole, measuring 26m by 10m, had been cut into the back of the sea bank at TG 5272 1229. Earth was banked up around the north, east and south sides of this excavation. Its purpose is not known but it remained open until after February 1941 (S2). The Manor House Hotel was undermined by coastal erosion and fell onto the beach later in 1941 (S6).

By May 1944 a number of military buildings and defences were present at the site (S3). It is likely that many of these were constructed shortly after February 1941 (S2), prior to the demolition of the hotel. A square pillbox was visible on the beach (NHER 31790) and was linked to the cliffs by a 40m section of beach scaffolding. On top of the cliffs barbed wire defences were present in the northern part of the area. A pillbox, apparently a ‘thick walled’ type 24 was located at TG 5263 1239 facing north. A flat roofed rectangular building of probable military type was located 46m to its south at TG 5265 1235. In the southwest corner of the area around TG 5262 1222 was a group of four more buildings. These included a Nissen or Handcraft type hut at TG 5262 1220. It is possible that these buildings were associated with a former searchlight battery to the west of the railway line (NHER 27489). However, the buildings seem to still be in use in 1944 and the battery was abandoned. To the northeast of these buildings at TG 5265 1226 was a circular concrete base with an unidentified structure, possibly a light anti aircraft gun or single searchlight, mounted on it.

To the east of the gun or searchlight base a rectangular area of ground seemed to have been cleared and the earth banked up on three sides. This area measured 82m by 16m and was centred on TG 5270 1227. Immediately to the east of this area on the cliff edge was a line of thirteen parallel areas of bare soil. These appear to be marks left by small structures, possibly beach huts, which had been removed from the site. No structures are visible at this location on the February 1941 or earlier aerial photographs (S2). A possible spigot mortar emplacement was located at TG 5270 1232.

Two of the buildings in the southwest corner of the site remained in March 1955 (S7) but these had been demolished in the redevelopment of the site by 1965 (S8). The extant pillbox which formed part of this group of defences is recorded as NHER 31790. Further World War Two coast defences are recorded to the north and south of this group (NHER 27516 and 27517).
J. Albone (NMP), 26 July 2005.

February 2006. Norfolk NMP.
It is likely that the structure visible on the circular concrete base at TG 5265 1226 in 1944 was a radar controlled 150mm projector searchlight mounted on a wheeled trailer. This type of late World War Two searchlight has also been identified on aerial photographs Somerton (NHER 42471) further along the Norfolk Coast.
J. Albone (NMP), 24 February 2006.