Record Details
| NHER Number: | 52497 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | World War Two railblock on the Norfolk Railway |
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Summary
A World War Two railblock is evident as a group of structures visible on aerial photographs along the line of the Norfolk Railway (NHER 13571). The railblock was sited strategically on the east side of a rail bridge crossing the River Yare. It was one of several such railblocks established during this period on the railway lines surrounding Norwich, and several others are visible in close proximity on this same line (for example, NHER 52496 to the east and NHER 53251 to the west). The railblock appears to have largely been removed by 1946 and it is not known whether any element of the site still survives today.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 2123 0527 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG20NW |
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| Parish: | KESWICK, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two railblock is evident as a group of structures visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred at TG 2123 0527. It was positioned along the Norfolk Railway (NHER 13571; also known as the Norwich and Brandon Railway, NMR TG 20 NW LINEAR 1085), in a strategic location to the east of two rail bridges crossing the River Yare. It was one of several railblocks located along this railway line; others nearby include NHER 52496 620m to the east and NHER 53251 approximately 660m further down the line to the west. Many of the other railway lines leading to and from Norwich were equipped with similar defences (for example NHER 52494 on the Ipswich to Norwich or Norwich to Diss Railway, NHER 13578, 1.5km to the east).
The railblock was relatively insubstantial compared to some others (such as NHER 52496), and appears to have consisted of two lines of sockets spanning the line into which anti-tank rails or similar obstacles could be inserted (only the sockets are visible). Two flanking concrete blocks are also visible, together with a third block or small structure on the south side of the line (the latter could relate to the railway rather than the World War Two defence). The railblock appears to have been removed by April 1946 (S3), when photographs do not actually show it but there are clear signs of recent activity. Whether any element of the site still survives in its original location is not known.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 30 November 2009.
Monument Types
- STRUCTURE? (Early 20th Century to 21st Century - 1901 AD? to 2100 AD?)
- ANTI TANK BLOCK (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- ANTI TANK OBSTACLE (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL? (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- CUBE (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- RAILBLOCK (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- STRUCTURE? (World War Two - 1939 AD? to 1945 AD?)
- TANK TRAP (World War Two - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| <S1> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1942. RAF HLA/447 2119-20 30-APR-1942 (NMR). |
| <S2> | Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1945. RAF 106G/UK/772 6006-7 06-SEP-1945 (NMR). |
| <S3> | Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1429 4104-6 16-APR-1946 (NHER TG 2105E, TG 2005D). |
Related records
| 13571 | Part of: Norfolk Railway (Yarmouth, Norwich and Brandon) (Monument) |
| 53252 | Related to: Site of possible World War Two railblock on the Norfolk Railway (Monument) |
| 52494 | Related to: Site of World War Two railblock on Eastern Union Railway Norwich Extension (Monument) |
| 53255 | Related to: Site of World War Two railblock on the Norfolk Railway (Monument) |
| 53251 | Related to: World War Two railblock on the Norfolk Railway (Monument) |
| 52496 | Related to: World War Two railblock on the Norfolk Railway (Monument) |