Monument record BRD 201 - First World War practice trench system (Compartment 4579)

2001: A group of discontinuous short sinuous trenches in a roughly square area with circa 50m sides in SE corner of compartment 4579. Area shown as heathland in 1884. Possibly WW1 training trenches (S1).

January 2018. 'Brecks from Above' and Breckland National Mapping Programme.
The earthworks of these previously recorded First World War trenches are clearly visible on the 0.5m resolution Lidar data (S1) and the site can be extended to the east and north considerably. The lidar reveals a complex and expansive set of First World War trenches and defensive positions still surviving within the plantation.
A First World War date seems most likely for this training, but it must be noted that major training exercises took place within this area in the run up to the First World War conflict and it is feasible that some or all of the earthworks date to this period. Although a First World War date seems most likely.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 24th January 2018.