Monument record SOL 053 - Site of World War Two ground defences

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Summary

World War Two ground defences comprising a pillbox, a possible spigot mortar emplacement and a possible slit trench (or trenches), are visible as extant structures and earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1944 and 1945; the structures have since been removed and the earthworks seemingly levelled. They were positioned alongside the B1074, and probably acted as defences for the searchlight battery that lay 160m to their north (SHER SOL 052).

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 4987 9704 (144m by 49m)
Map sheet TM49NE
Civil Parish SOMERLEYTON, ASHBY AND HERRINGFLEET, WAVENEY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

January 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
World War Two ground defences comprising a pillbox, a possible spigot mortar emplacement and a possible slit trench (or trenches), are visible as extant structures and earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1944 and 1945 (S1)-(S2); although the slit trench was still visible in 1953 (S3), the structures have since been removed and the earthworks seemingly levelled. They were positioned alongside the B1074, and probably acted as defences for the searchlight battery that lay 160m to their north (SHER SOL 052). The pillbox (centred at TM 4984 9702) was probably of Type 22 design. A small, possibly concrete structure visible to its west may be the pedestal of a spigot mortar. Lengths of slit trench to the north of the pillbox and further to the east appear to be contemporary and probably once joined up (they are obscured by trees); however, they could instead simply be ditches defining the edge of the tree belt.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 16th January 2014.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <S1> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/LA/21 RS 4055-4056 04-JUL-1944 (EHA).
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/UK/930 RP 3056-3057 16-OCT-1945 (EHA).
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/58/1034 V 0061-0062 23-FEB-1953 (EHA).

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Sep 24 2014 9:13AM

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