NHER 27953 (Monument record) - Site of World War Two trenches

October 2002. Norfolk NMP.
Possible World War Two trenches and possible defensive positions located on both sides of the road and visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1) and 1950 (S2). On the 1950 RAF aerial photographs (S2) to the northern/saltmarsh side of the road is a U-shaped embankment located at TG 0842 4377. This earthwork measures 6m by 5.5m and is 1.5-2m wide and has an entrance to the south-east. It is possible that this embankment once surrounded a gun position. No such feature is visible on the 1946 RAF aerial photographs (S1), so it is possible that it was a mobile gun emplacement or a similar structure. To the south of the road a system of interconnected features and trenches can be identified on both the 1946 (S1) and 150 (S2) RAF aerial photographs. On the 1950 aerial photographs at TG 0840 4375 is a 1.75m diameter circular sunken feature. The 1946 RAF aerial photographs of this site are not particularly clear, however it is possible that there is a small circular structure at this location. This may be a spigot mortar emplacement or similar sized structure. To the immediate east of this is a bank and ditch running from TG 08408 43755 to TG 0841 4375, both are to 6.5m long and 0.5m wide. To the east of this is a rectangular sunken pit at TG 0841 4375. This is quite well defined and steep-sided and measuring 3.5m by 2m. A bank 0.5m wide surrounds this pit. The eastern end of this rectangular pit is joined to a linear trench which long a slightly zigzag course down to TG 0842 4374, where it joins another similar sunken feature. Centred on TG 0842 4373 is another rectangular sunken pit, measuring 3.5m by 2.5m. A bank, 1m wide, also surrounds this on three sides. The main zigzag trench continues around the outside of this bank and ends at TG 0842 4372. It is possible that these two rectangular sunken features had defensive positions or guns within them, although no such structures have been identified on the 1946 RAF aerial photographs.
S. Massey (NMP), 6 May 2003.