NHER 43776 (Monument record) - World War One and World War Two military training area on Broome Heath

June 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A military training area comprising slit trenches and other features of World War One and World War Two date is visible on aerial photographs (S1-S3). These features were located on Broome Heath and centred on TM 3460 9140. The majority of the military activity appears to have been concentrated in the northeastern part of the heath. Extensive slit trenches of both zigzag and crenellated types were present in this area on 1945 and 1946 aerial photographs. The trenches do not appear particularly fresh and in some places they were cut by quarrying (e.g. at TM 3490 9150) or overlain by a playing field (e.g. at TM 3481 9154). This suggests that these were World War One practice trenches and is confirmed by (S4-S5). In the southwest part of the heath were numerous small weapons pits. These were particularly located around the round barrow and long barrow earthworks (NHER 10597, 10611). A group of three of these pits cross the ‘tail’ of the long barrow earthwork (S3). It is possible that these pits are of World War Two date. A 20m square enclosure, possibly of barbed wire, is present within the area of the Neolithic enclosure (NHER 10602) at TM 3432 9117. Small barbed wire enclosures of this type often surrounded masts or aerials. No structure is visible inside the enclosure on the available aerial photographs, but it is probable that it had a World War Two military function. Rectangular huts are present at the southwest and northeast ends of the heath. It is not clear if these were military buildings, or civilian structures that may have been requisitioned by the military. The majority of the military features at the site had been destroyed by quarrying by 1967 (S6) although some were still present as earthworks in 1995 (S5). It is possible that some of the earthworks included in this group are not of 20th century military origin, but have an unknown earlier date.
J. Albone (NMP), 16 June 2006.

May 2009.
A sketch plan of World War One trenches at this location dated 24 August 1916 was deposited with the HER. The map is set out in 100 yard squares and covers an area measuring approximately 660m SW-NE by 350m NW-SE. Unfortunately the only geographical marker included in the map is Loddon Road and therefore it is difficult to place the tenches in the landscape with any accuracy.
See (S7) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 13 May 2009.