The last post of the June visit to Norfolk (actually managed to get quite a lot in considering it was not a trip specially to see WW2 defences!).
Both of these locations on the north Norfolk coast had exits off the beach so were well defended. Brancaster in particular would have been well defended as there was also an emergency Coastal battery located here although not much remains now. Type 28 pillboxes for the 2 pounder anti-tank gun covered the exit at both beaches although both are now virtually hidden by vegetation (it was not possible to get a photo of the one at Holme).
Two other pillboxes can be seen at Brancaster, one a unique irregular hexagonal design. Nearby is a pillbox for a medium machine gun, presumably based on the 1936 design sometimes referred to as a Type 27, but is unusual in that it has no chamfered corners. The corrugated iron sheet used for shuttering has clearly left its mark! Christopher Bird in Silent Sentinels lists a Type 24 in the area I but could not find this.
At Holme a home guard store and a few pedestals for the Spigot mortar can be seen.
The final picture is of a double light machine gun pillbox unique to Norfolk - this one is at Wells. They were often sited in pairs. Well that's it for Norfolk.
Royal Naval assessment and operational planning in the event of invasion now on the website pillboxes-suffolk.webeden.co.uk
Image 1 & 2: Unique irregular hexagonal pillbox, Brancaster
Image 3: Pillbox for medium machine gun, Brancaster
Image 4: Type 28 pillbox for 2 pounder anti-tank gun, Brancaster. Might be a bit more accessible in winter!
Image 5: Home Guard store, Holme
Image 6 & 7: Spigot mortar pedestals, Holme.
Image 8: Twin light machine gun pillbox, Wells.
You didn't make it into the tunnels in the dunes at Brancaster then?
ReplyDeleteHi, no did not manage to get into the tunnels, at the time I visited looked like it would need some substantial shoveling to get into them!
ReplyDelete