NHER 42464 (Monument record) - World War Two spigot mortar emplacement, possible pillbox and barbed wire defences and possible pillbox, Browston Lane

March 2005. Norfolk NMP.
The site of World War Two spigot mortar emplacement, a possible pillbox and barbed wire defences are visible on aerial photographs on aerial photographs to either side of Browston Lane at Decoy House (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 4982 0114. These structures appear to be part of a system of defences situated near the County border, protecting the roads around Great Yarmouth to the north and Lowestoft to the south, see NHER 42233, 42240 and 30907 for nearby roadblocks and barbed wire obstructions.

The possible pillbox or similar defensive structure is visible at TG 4953 0103 in 1953 (S2). The structure is not clearly visible due to tree cover, although a 4m across round or polygonal structure is visible at the side of the road, leading to the barbed wire and the roadblock (NHER 42240) to the east. This positioning would seem to be consistent with other pillboxes on roads on the periphery of Gun Defended Areas (GDA) such a Great Yarmouth. However this structure is not visible on any earlier or later aerial photographs, although this is partly to do with the trees covering the location.

The spigot mortar emplacement is located at TG 4989 0111, on an area of grass to the east of Decoy House (S1). The central thimble or pedestal is visible within a circular pit with an irregular embankment. Three weapons pits are also visible cut into the grass.

Barbed wire obstructions have been erected on either side of Browston Lane and around the area of the defences at Decoy House. Two smaller stretches of barbed wire are visible to either side of Hobland Road to the north, centred on TG 4988 0138 (S1).
S. Massey (NMP), 7 March 2005.