There are quite a few old structures still standing in the grounds of the camp, now a museum. Sadly, many of the pillboxes and gun emplacements located outside the camp have been destroyed. It is possible to walk alongside the perimeter fence, starting by the car park on the beach at Weybourne Hope, and to explore the pillboxes etc along the cliff path, in adjoining fields or beside the tracks and paths that traverse this area.
During WWI the Weybourne Camp was an Army coastal defence base. Weybourne Camp became an anti-aircraft artillery range (and a highly secret site) during WWII, which, in combination with a complementary camp at Stiffkey, represented the main live firing training ranges for ACK-ACK Command. According to reports, demonstrations given on occasion of a visit to the camp by the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill, repeatedly ended in failure, the perhaps worst being that a Queen Bee pilotless target aircraft was shot down and crashed close to the VIP enclosure. Apparently all the senior staff were replaced the following day. The site remained an anti-aircraft artillery base until 1958 and the RAF still maintains a radar station within the area.
Here is some interesting information:
http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue//ad...on/pdf/Text_Reports/DA41_TEXT_-_WEYBOURNE.pdf
The site is currently owned by the Muckleburgh Collection, so called because of the proximity to Muckleburgh Hill. Opened to the public in 1988 the Muckleburgh Collection is the largest privately-owned military museum in the United Kingdom. Many of the old buildings and defence structures are still in place, some are dotted about outside the perimeter fence. Others are located close or right beside the fence and can be seen from the footpath leading around the site.
The first pillbox encountered was this square one which sits on top of a low cliff, deeply buried in the sand with only the embrasure facing the sea still to be seen. DOB site reference: S0001051.
Nearby is a type 22 pillbox, completely broken up by the sea. Its red brick shuttered walls were 600mm thick. DOB site reference: S0001052.
From the beach one can see the weather station with a pillbox, a gun emplacement and an observation post on the hill below it. and a little further back there is what I believe to be the former wireless station. There are also a couple of communication (?) masts. Something up there emits strange whistling noises.
This pillbox by Kelling Hard has landed on the beach where it is in the process of being covered by shingle. It was surrounded by tubular beach scaffolding projecting from the shingle but this has been completely covered over. It ran in front of the pillbox and was added after it was built. The interior of the pillbox is almost entirely filled with shingle and other debris. Names can be seen carved into the bricks by the entrance.
At Kelling Hard a public footpath turns off, leading inland. A pillbox can be seen beside this track, about halfway up the hill.
A short distance higher up, still following the track that leads along the camp's perimeter fence, are the remains of a pillbox. It used to look over the Quag. The village seen in the background is Salthouse.
On the other side of the perimeter fence there are several of these gun emplacements. The round gun platform measures 3 metres in diameter and has a concrete platform to the rear. Two courses of concrete bricks run round the edge of the circular gun platform. Its use is unknown - possibly LAA. DOB site reference: S0001097. The structures were recently cleared of vegetation and the Muckleburgh Collection plans to fully restore these emplacements and make them accessible to the public as part of their museum displays at some time in the future.
Still following the perimeter fence, there is this structure. I don't know what purpose it served and am hoping that somebody on here will recognize it and kindly supply some information.
This gun emplacement, possibly built to house a medium to large anti tank gun, is right beside the path - on the other side of the fence. Its large open rear implies use with a wheeled artillery piece, and I think this is what can be seen inside. DOB site reference: S0001096. It is adjoined by an observation post.
There is more to explore in this area and I guess I will be back there soon-ish.
During WWI the Weybourne Camp was an Army coastal defence base. Weybourne Camp became an anti-aircraft artillery range (and a highly secret site) during WWII, which, in combination with a complementary camp at Stiffkey, represented the main live firing training ranges for ACK-ACK Command. According to reports, demonstrations given on occasion of a visit to the camp by the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill, repeatedly ended in failure, the perhaps worst being that a Queen Bee pilotless target aircraft was shot down and crashed close to the VIP enclosure. Apparently all the senior staff were replaced the following day. The site remained an anti-aircraft artillery base until 1958 and the RAF still maintains a radar station within the area.
Here is some interesting information:
http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue//ad...on/pdf/Text_Reports/DA41_TEXT_-_WEYBOURNE.pdf
The site is currently owned by the Muckleburgh Collection, so called because of the proximity to Muckleburgh Hill. Opened to the public in 1988 the Muckleburgh Collection is the largest privately-owned military museum in the United Kingdom. Many of the old buildings and defence structures are still in place, some are dotted about outside the perimeter fence. Others are located close or right beside the fence and can be seen from the footpath leading around the site.
The first pillbox encountered was this square one which sits on top of a low cliff, deeply buried in the sand with only the embrasure facing the sea still to be seen. DOB site reference: S0001051.
Nearby is a type 22 pillbox, completely broken up by the sea. Its red brick shuttered walls were 600mm thick. DOB site reference: S0001052.
From the beach one can see the weather station with a pillbox, a gun emplacement and an observation post on the hill below it. and a little further back there is what I believe to be the former wireless station. There are also a couple of communication (?) masts. Something up there emits strange whistling noises.
This pillbox by Kelling Hard has landed on the beach where it is in the process of being covered by shingle. It was surrounded by tubular beach scaffolding projecting from the shingle but this has been completely covered over. It ran in front of the pillbox and was added after it was built. The interior of the pillbox is almost entirely filled with shingle and other debris. Names can be seen carved into the bricks by the entrance.
At Kelling Hard a public footpath turns off, leading inland. A pillbox can be seen beside this track, about halfway up the hill.
A short distance higher up, still following the track that leads along the camp's perimeter fence, are the remains of a pillbox. It used to look over the Quag. The village seen in the background is Salthouse.
On the other side of the perimeter fence there are several of these gun emplacements. The round gun platform measures 3 metres in diameter and has a concrete platform to the rear. Two courses of concrete bricks run round the edge of the circular gun platform. Its use is unknown - possibly LAA. DOB site reference: S0001097. The structures were recently cleared of vegetation and the Muckleburgh Collection plans to fully restore these emplacements and make them accessible to the public as part of their museum displays at some time in the future.
Still following the perimeter fence, there is this structure. I don't know what purpose it served and am hoping that somebody on here will recognize it and kindly supply some information.
This gun emplacement, possibly built to house a medium to large anti tank gun, is right beside the path - on the other side of the fence. Its large open rear implies use with a wheeled artillery piece, and I think this is what can be seen inside. DOB site reference: S0001096. It is adjoined by an observation post.
There is more to explore in this area and I guess I will be back there soon-ish.