Record Details
| NHER Number: | 16799 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | World War Two Vickers Machine Gun pillbox at Thimble Hill |
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Summary
A World War Two Vickers Machine Gun pillbox has been recorded as an extant structure to the south of Wayford Bridge. It has been visited on the ground, is visible on aerial photographs and is depicted by modern Ordnance Survey mapping. It forms part of a larger group of World War Two anti-invasion defences in the vicinity of the bridge, which as a river crossing was clearly a location of strategic importance.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 3464 2449 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG32SW |
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| Parish: | SMALLBURGH, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
By garage.
Pill box, set in bank, with very thick blast wall.
Approximate position from Pillbox Survey.
E. Rose (NAU), 25 November 1980.
Location confirmed on ground. Low red-brick octagonal.
E. Rose (NAU), 14 January 1981.
See record form in file by source [1], who adds:
Rare 1940/41 type 20V. Heavy machine gun post.
Survey No. H2-16.
D.Walker (NLA), July 1996.
May 2007. Norfolk NMP.
NMP mapping has led to the alteration of the central grid reference of the site from TG 3468 2449 to TG 3465 2449.
The World War Two pillbox described above was a Vickers Machine Gun pillbox (see NMR TG 32 NW 30). It is visible as an extant structure on aerial photographs (S1)-(S3), and is also depicted by modern Ordnance Survey 1:2500 mapping. Contrary to the description given above it is rectangular in plan, although its two front corners are chamfered. A substantial blast wall is visible on its western side. It was sited to face northwards towards Wayford Bridge.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 23 May 2007.
Monument Types
- GUN EMPLACEMENT (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- PILLBOX (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- VICKERS MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Meridian Airmaps Limited. 1963. MAL 108439-40 01-MAR-1963. |
| <S2> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Meridian Airmaps Limited. 1965. MAL 65032 175-6 26-APR-1965. |
| <S3> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1972. OS/72111 045-6 02-MAY-1972. |
Related records - none
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