Record Details
| NHER Number: | 37167 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Possible World War Two anti aircraft tower or observation post |
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Summary
A World War Two brick tower exists at Swanton Morley airfield (NHER 2830). It had two storeys and was an anti aircraft tower or an observation post. Although it survived in 2002, plans were in place to demolish it.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TF 99565 18552 |
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| Map Sheet: | TF91NE |
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| Parish: | HOE, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
2002. EH MPP Assessment.
Photographs taken by the RAF in 1946 show that this structure was originally sited in a hedgerow, which has since been removed. It is a two storey structure, with a windowless lower compartment and an open upper level with a concrete platform for the gun mounting. Slots for a ladder that would have provided access to the upper storey were observed on the east side. The holdfast and mounting for the gun were still in place at the time of the survey. Destruction of this tower has been planned in order to allow gravel extraction in the area.
Information from (S1).
H. Hamilton (NLA), 13 December 2007.
June 2002. NAU Survey.
An NAU survey was carried out ahead of demolition and gravel extraction (see NHER 37159).
The structure has an open upper storey containing a mounting, possibly for a light anti aircraft weapon. It may have been built in two phases or the upper storey was built from a different batch of bricks to the lower. The lower storey possibly would have provided shelter for anti aircraft gunners.
See report (S2) for further details.
D. Robertson (NLA), 14 March 2006.
March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
This small World War Two tower, possibly a former watch post and/or gun is visible on aerial photographs (S3) within an area of military defences and structures recorded as part of the main Swanton Morley record (NHER 2830).
S. Massey (NMP), 03 March 2008.
Monument Types
- ANTI AIRCRAFT DEFENCE SITE? (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- BUILDING (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- OBSERVATION POST? (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Unpublished Document: Bamford, H.. 2002. MPP Sites Report.. |
| <S2> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Trimble, G. and Underdown, S. 2002. Report on an Archaeological Evaluation on land adjoining Swanton Morley Airfield, Beetley, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 770. pp 12-14. |
| <S3> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 3G/TUD/UK/51 5125-6 31-JAN-1946 (NMR). |
Related records
| 2830 | Part of: Swanton Morley Airfield (Monument) |