Record Details
| NHER Number: | 21298 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | World War Two observation post |
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Summary
A World War Two observation post at Beeston Regis Hill is visible on aerial photographs taken during the 1940s. In 1941 photographs it appears as an octagonal embankment or walled structure surrounded by a ditch. By 1946 the structure was built of concrete. A trench or channel links the emplacement to a large system of slit trenches (NHER 38279) to the south. All that survives above ground is the concrete base of the structure.
Images
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 1678 4329 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG14SE |
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| Parish: | SHERINGHAM, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
April 1985. Summit of hill.
Polygonal concrete base of demolished pillbox. Other foundations to west may or may not be connected.
E. Rose (NAU), 28 April 1985
August 1994.
Second visit established that this base is octagonal, not hexagonal, and has a channel through it - both would be unusual
features for a pillbox.
E. Rose (NAU), 15 August 1994.
See (S1), which adds:
Rare 1940/41 structure, thought to be observation point. Channel running across floor, possibly for range finder, searchlight or other equipment needing power.
D. Walker (NLA), July 1996.
March 2004. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a World War Two observation post on Beeston Regis Hill, Sheringham, approximately located at TG 1678 4329. This site forms part of the World War Two coastal defences on the hill (NHER 38279) which are visible on aerial photographs from the 1940s (S2 to S3). Please refer to record NHER 38279 for further details.
On aerial photographs from 1941 an octagonal embankment or walled structure is visible, measuring approximately 5m across (S2). This is surrounded by an outer ditch. This octagonal emplacement has an opening to the south, through which a trench or channel runs down to the south, linking to a larger slit trench system (NHER 38279). On the RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S3) at approximately the same location is a concrete octagonal structure, which has the appearance of a pillbox, or the aforementioned observation post. It seems likely that this is the same structure at a later stage of construction or use. The associated trenches are no longer clearly visible.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 March 2004.
See 2004 Norfolk Rapid Coastal Survey entries NHER 41557, NHER 41558 and NHER 41559.
See (S4).
J. Allen (NLA), 25 April 2005.
December 2004. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey.
Land-based survey; Area A16, Context 21:
Concrete and brick base for a Second World War pillbox, located on the top of Beeston Bump at TG 16777 43306.
See assessment report (S4) for further details.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.421).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 6 December 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2019.
Monument Types
- OBSERVATION POST (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- PILLBOX? (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- SLIT TRENCH (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Recording Form: [various]. Norfolk Defensive Structures Survey Recording Form. Norfolk Defensive Structures Survey. |
| <S2> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1941. RAF S/378 66-7 07-AUG-1941 (NMR). |
| <S3> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1571 3179-80 07-JUN-1946 (Norfolk SMR TG 1542B, TG 1642A). |
| <S4> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Robertson, D., Crawley, P., Barker, A., and Whitmore, S. 2005. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey. Assessment Report and Updated Project Design. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 1045. p 128. |
Related records
| 41016 | Part of: Multi-period features and finds (Monument) |
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