NHER 42518 (Monument record) - A World War Two searchlight battery and a possible wireless or radio site, Gorleston-on-Sea

THIS SITE WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNDER NHER 11787.

Brief (S8) notes a large radar station, whose alignment was changed on one occasion at TG 513 023 and a searchlight battery at TG 517 023.
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA), 2 February 1998. Information from (S7).
Previously recorded under NHER 11787.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 March 2019.

1998. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of undeveloped area to west of James Paget hospital (part of proposed South Gorleston Development Area).
Initial scanning suggested that the south-western part of the site was highly disturbed - most likely due to the presence of the World War II searchlight battery at this location.
See NHER 13020 and report (S1).
P. Watkins (HES), 16 March 2019.

February 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two searchlight battery and a wireless telegraphy or radio telephony site are visible on aerial photographs at Wood Farm Cottages, Gorleston (S2-S4). The site is centred on TG 5158 0237, although this point does not correspond to an archaeological feature on the ground, as it is a point in-between the two military installations. The searchlight site contained several lights and has a number of associated buildings and therefore may be a troop headquarters for the batteries manning the lights for the Great Yarmouth Gun Defended Area (GDA) of which the Anti-Aircraft headquarters was located 2km to the north (NHER 32667). An additional Heavy Anti-Aircraft battery is located only 650m to the east (NHER 32668). The wireless telegraphy (W/T) or radio telephony (R/T) site is located to the west of the searchlight battery and consists of a central structure with four pencil masts erected in a square array around it. The definite function of this site is not known although it is most likely to be a Navy Wireless station associated with shipping control. A similar site was identified from aerial photographs in Ormesby St Margaret and this was known to have been a Royal Navy wireless station, see NHER 27662 for details. These two sites have previously been identified from aerial photographs during the aerial photograph assessment as part of the desktop for the ‘South Gorleston Development Area’ (S5).
The possible wireless telegraphy (W/T) site is located within an arable field to the west of the site. The central structure is located at TG 5139 0240. This consists of a rectangular pitched roof structure measuring 10m by 7m, with a conjoined smaller structure, 5.5m by 4m. This is located in the centre of a fenced-off square enclosure, 75m across. A possible square radar matt is present, which would have provided a standard background interference and also aided the measurement of height information. Within this fenced and matted area are four pencil masts, which are arranged in square, 43.5m apart from one another. An array of four concrete feet anchors each of the pencil masts. In two of the corners of the square enclosure is a weapons pit or air raid shelter dug into the ground surface (S3). Next to the entrance to the site is a rectangular structure, which is camouflaged or earth covered in 1944 (S2). A surfaced track runs from the entrance towards the searchlight battery at Wood Farm. A number of small weapons pits or gun positions have been dug into the field boundary along this track. A type 22 pillbox is also located at TG 5137 0230.
The searchlight battery is located to the west alongside Wood Farm and Wood Farm Cottages at TG 5174 0236. The main component of this site consists of a cloverleaf shaped arrangement of circular emplacements at TG 5175 0233. Two of the emplacements are 9m in diameter and would probably have held 90-cm lights or projectors. The eastern emplacement is slightly larger and ovoid, measuring 13m by 11m. This may have been for a third light or projector. This group of emplacements look like they have gone out of use by July 1944 (S2), as there are no obvious signs of recent use. To the north of this, at TG 5177 0237, is a small circular emplacement, 4.5m in diameter, which again does not look like it has been recently used. A further circular emplacement has also been created within the corner of the field at TG 5179 0243. This is likely to be a Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement, although there is no sign of a gun in 1944, again this appears not to have been used recently. A slit trench also runs along the eastern side of the site. The searchlight site reveals much evidence for the site having altered greatly throughout the war. At TG 5177 0233, TG 5179 0236 and TG 5176 0239 are the former bases of buildings. Two of these are both close to the earlier earthwork emplacements and are probably part of an earlier phase of the site or an earlier method of employing searchlights. Also removed from the site by July 1944 is a group of structures at TG 5167 0235, on the opposite side of Woodfarm Lane (S2). It is possible that these were gun emplacements, possibly for Bofors guns.
There are elements of the site that look like they are still being, or have recently been, used in July 1944 (S2). At TG 5174 0240 is a large circular concrete surfaced area, 25m in diameter, with an unusual, wedge-shaped structure within it, although not in the centre, where a possible mounting or holdfast can be seen. Also at TG 5175 0237 is another structure or pedestal, possibly a mobile mounting, as there is no obvious sign of a fixed emplacement or platform. It is probable that this is a radar controlled 150-mm projector mounted on a wheeled trailer, which was used later during World War Two. In the northeastern corner of the field at TG 5178 0241 is a possible additional structure, located within a rectangular concrete base or cleared area. It is possible that this is a machine gun emplacement or similar defensive feature.
To the west of the site is a group of structures, centred on TG 5170 0237, these appear to be various rectangular huts and concrete structures, which would have been operational buildings, such as the generator and the accommodation for the detachment. One of these huts appears to have a square-shaped gantry on top, which is still visible in 1945-6 (S3-S4). In July 1944 an additional aerial component is visible on top of the gantry, probably a radar transmitter or receiver. To the north at TG 5169 0241 is a possible camouflaged or earth covered rectangular structure, 12m by 3m. It is possible that this is an air raid shelter for the site.
Given the close proximity, it is possible that the surrounding farm buildings got incorporated into the military site. Two air raid shelters are visible within the garden of Wood Farm, both 3m by 2.5m, and also another at Wood Farm Cottages, 4m by 3.5m. These are all likely to be Anderson shelters covered by an earthen mound. To the immediate
S. Massey (NMP), 10 February 2006.

February-March 2010. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with installation of underground electrical cables.
Although the cable trench passed through the site of this searchlight battery no related features or deposits were recorded.
See report (S6) and NHER 62739 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 May 2018.

April-May 2024. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land east of Woodfarm Lane.
Several of the trenches excavated coincided with this site, although the majority of the features recorded were probably unrelated to activity during World War Two. The most notable exception was a large feature that clearly represented the remains of the circular emplacement visible on aerial photographs at TG 5177 0238. This had a layer of compacted sand at its margins which is suggested to be the remnants of sandbags. An associated ring of post-/stake-holes was also recorded. Large modern pits (not excavated) immediately to the north of this site were also potentially associated with activity during World War Two.
See report (S9) and NHER 68434 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 August 2024.