Monument record ELV 196 - Second World War Military Training features.

January 2020. Breckland National Mapping Programme.
An area of banks, ditches and pits most likely relating to Second World War military training can be seen as earthworks (which have since been levelled) on aerial photographs (S1-S5). There is a number of small pits (centred at TL 8108 7777, TL 8180 7769, TL 8246 7788, TL 8294 7817, TL 8342 7833, TL 8335 7803 and TL 8303 7773) in clusters and spread out across the area which may have related to Second World War training features, weapons pits or explosive carters. Some of the pits (for example centred at TL 8335 7803) have surrounding banks which may be part of the features construction or up cast from explosive craters. There are a number of very small pits across the area (predominantly at TL 8303 7773) which have been mapped by extend due to the small size of the features and the scale of the aerial photographs making it difficult to map the features accurately. Two small ditches (centred at TL 8249 7771 and TL 8303 7820) can also be seen as earthworks in the 1940s which may have related to possible practice trenches. Three circular features (centred at TL 8244 7801 and TL 8218 7765) have also been recorded. It is likely the circular features relate to military training or possible emplacements such as search lights. It is possible that the circular feature at TL 8218 7765 may be geological in origin rather than archaeological. A roughly circular trackway (centred at TL 8216 7795) can be seen on the 1940s aerial photographs. The trackway was possibly constructed from compacted earth rather than a concrete and has therefore been mapped as a bank rather than a structure. The possible circular trackway may have been used for vehicle training rather than just for access. There is also a number of vehicle tracks across the area which have not been mapped. The probable Second World War training features can be seen predominately as earthworks in the 1940s (S1-S3) , have mostly been levelled by the 1950s (S4) and are not seen on recent (2016) aerial photographs. The probable training features are in close proximity to further possible Second World War training features to the east (BNH 132) and the south east (BNH 128 and BNH 172). Due to a lack of adequate control points when rectifying the photos, the locational accuracy of the mapping may have been slightly reduced.
J.Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 20th January 2020