NHER 42447 (Monument record) - World War One practice trenches on Winterton Dunes

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A group of practice or slit trenches is visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S4), centred at TG 4931 2053. The trenches were no longer fresh earthworks in 1940 (S1), by which time they had been partially overlain by a World War Two minefield (part of NHER 42447). The northeast trench (visible between TG 4932 2055 and TG 4933 2052) may also have been fully or partially backfilled by that time. Their distinctive layout, which includes lengths of ‘crenellated’ trench, is comparable to practice trenches of World War One date, such as those in Penally, Pembrokeshire (S5). They may be associated with a probably contemporary firing range 280m to their northwest (NHER 42440).

Recent aerial photographs (S4) and a site visit on 1 January 2006 established that parts of the trench system still survive as substantial earthworks.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 24 January 2006.

Site visit 19 November 2013.
Well-defined earthworks as described above still extant amongst the dunes, with grass and heather cover. Around 0.5m deep in places. See digital photos.
On Winterton Dunes, managed by Natural England.
D. Gurney (HES), 21 November 2013.

The Winterton trenches are interesting as they were probably dug as a training exercise but would have served as anti-invasion defences, as these were maintained throughout the First World War (S6).
D. Gurney (HES), 11 June 2014.