NHER 27533 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two defences on Great Yarmouth seafront

August 2005. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two anti-invasion defences is visible on aerial photographs, (S1) to (S7), between Britannia Pier and The Jetty (from TG 5322 0771 to TG 5317 0702). It formed part of a long line of defences stretching all the way along Great Yarmouth seafront. The earliest elements of the group described here are first visible on photographs taken in 1940 and 1941, (S1) and (S2). By this time scaffolding and probably also barbed wire had been laid out along the beach, forming a line (or a double line close to The Jetty) between the two piers with secondary elements lying perpendicular to this. The two pillboxes positioned either side of The Jetty (at approximately TG 5320 0706 and TG 5319 0703) are also visible at this date. The northernmost was a Type 24, the southernmost a Type 22. In 1944 these were both camouflaged by square 'hats' (e.g. see (S5)).

By 1944 to 1945 several new structures are visible (S3) to (S6). A cluster of huts and defences can be seen around TG 5314 0711. The function of two huts joined by a covered walkway is not known. A tall structure to their north was a light anti aircraft tower comparable to similar structures mapped elsewhere at Great Yarmouth, e.g. the tower located approximately 1.6km to the south which has been recorded as part of NHER 27645. A small structure visible on its roof was probably the gun mounting. To the west, overlooking Marine Parade, were a spigot mortar emplacement and another Type 24 pillbox. The latter was still disguised by a square 'hat' in 1945 (S6) but this had been removed by 1947 (S7). To the north (at TG 5319 0734), on the roof of the former open air theatre, was an unidentified structure, possibly a pillbox or an emplacement for a gun or searchlight. Its roof appears to have been painted to blend in the building on which it stands (S6).

Later aerial photographs indicate that like most of Great Yarmouth's seafront defences, those described here were removed soon after the end of the war. There is no evidence that any trace of them now survives above ground.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 4 August 2005.