Monument record IKN 114 - Second World War aircraft obstruction ditches on Iken Heath

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Summary

Second World War aircraft obstruction ditches are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of Iken Heath. Their construction probably pre-dates the establishment of the Orford Battle Training Area (ORF 137) across this part of the heath. Some elements still survive as earthworks.

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 4070 5468 (1548m by 1439m)
Map sheet TM45SW
Civil Parish IKEN, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

June 2015. Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme.
Second World War aircraft obstruction ditches are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of Iken Heath (S1)-(S2). Their construction probably pre-dates the establishment of the Orford Battle Training Area (ORF 137) across this part of the heath (Sudbourne to the south was evacuated in 1942); certainly by 1945 some of the ditches had been partly levelled by training activity. Lidar flown in 2010 (S3) indicates that some elements still survived as earthworks at that date (around TM 3991 5383). See too IKN 085 for similar features mapped immediately to the north.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 25th June 2015.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <S1> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. US/7PH/GP/LOC132 V 5054-5056 30-DEC-1943 (EHA Laser Copy).
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/106G/UK/832 RS 4133-4136 23-SEP-1945 (EHA Original Print).
  • <S3> LIDAR Airborne Survey: LIDAR airborne survey. LIDAR TM3953 Environment Agency 2m DTM 25-JUL-2011.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jul 30 2015 11:52AM

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