NHER 42291 (Monument record) - A World War Two barrage balloon site, England’s Lane Industrial Estate, Gorleston-on-Sea

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two barrage balloon site is visible on aerial photographs from 1944 on England’s Lane Industrial Estate, Gorleston-on-Sea (S1)-(S4). The site consists of two incomplete, concentric rings of concrete tethering blocks with a central balloon. Traces of dismantled associated structures are also visible. Earlier in the war there is evidence for the site being used for training activities, as a group of trenches and weapons pits are visible. The entire site is centred on TG 5262 0399, although the actual balloon mooring is centred on TG 5263 0400. There a great many barrage balloon moorings in the Great Yarmouth area, including three in Gorleston-on-Sea (see also NHER 42281 and 42457) and two on the South Denes (NHER 42455 to 42456). The siting of these would suggest that they have been placed around the perimeter of the main town and harbour area, that which required the greatest defence. To the immediate east of this barrage balloon site is a large group of surface and sub-surface air raid shelters (NHER 42462), the men operating the barrage balloon site would presumably have used these shelters, as well as the residents of the area.

The earliest component of the site is the eye-shaped loop of concrete road, which is located in the centre of the later barrage balloon site. A perpendicular stretch of surfaced road forms an ‘ankh’ shaped arrangement. This is visible as early as September 1940 (S1). The purpose of this road is not known, although the looped route would suggest some sort of vehicular movement around the site. Some barrage balloon sites had a loop of surfaced road, which circumnavigated the balloon (S5), although there are no sign of tethering blocks at this site in 1940-1 (S1)-(S2). Some barrage balloon were attached to winch equipped lorries rather than being permanently attached to the ground (S5), so it is possible that an early mobile barrage balloon was flown from a such lorry. The loop of road would have facilitated movement and delivery of the necessary gas and supplies to the balloon. Also visible in 1941 was a series of angular crescent shaped trenches and weapons pits are visible around the western arc of the road (S2). These are all approximately 4.5m long and of varying widths and designs. A circular pit is also visible at TG 5266 0401, this has a slight track leading to it from the edge of the site and it is possible that it is a spigot mortar emplacement or similar gun pit.

The actual balloon is visible in May 1944 (S3) and this is moored to two partial concentric rings of concrete circular and square blocks. Some of which cut into the road surface, indicating that it is no longer an integral part of the site. Within the central mooring a ring of rectangular concrete blocks are arranged around a square feature. At TG 5260 0399 was a rectangular concrete base, 7m by 3m, upon which a structure is standing in May 1944 (S3), although this cannot be seen clearly. It seems likely that this building is associated with the operation of the site. The remains of similar structures was identified at the other barrage balloon sites in Gorleston-on-Sea, see NHER 42281, 42455 to 42457. A similarly sized rectangular structure is also visible at TG 5260 0396 in May 1944 (S3). Although nothing can be identified clearly (due to the poor quality of the areas for this site), there are possibly the bases for two structures located at TG 5259 0401, both measuring approximately 6m by 2m. It is possible that these structures, when still standing, where used for accommodation and equipment.
S. Massey (NMP), 25 January 2006.