A Bit Of Norfolk

This isn't the usual defences type of report its more of a "oh look theres a pillbox" one from the holiday with the wife.Did manage to cover a few but theres a lot more I missed.Basically starts around Happisburgh through Bacton and Mundesley with a few odds spotted on the trip home.
Starting with the first "Oh look theres a pillbox"was a WW1 circular at the roadside N of Sea Palling e06773

E06773 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06773 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06773 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06773 (7) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06773 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

Happisburgh
e06346 a small square variant SE of the lighthouse

E06346 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06346 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06346 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06346 (6) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

Just below the lighthouse Type 22 e03218

E03218 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03218 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03218 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03218 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03218 (9) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

Into the village on a track down to the front a couple of A/T blocks as yet not listed

DSC01485 by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

And the now sad looking Type 22 on the beach e03217

E03217 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03217 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03217 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

Northern edge of Happisburgh e01597 a machine gun post that seems to have a field of fire covering the gun battery and what was once a chain home low.

E01597 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01597 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01597 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01597 (7) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01597 (9) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

On to the coast battery.Two gun emplacements and one Type 22 pillbox remain along with 3 ex situ spigot pedestals,one behind the south empacement and two behind the other.

E07328 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07328 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07328 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07328 (6) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07328 (12) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07328 (16) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

Entrance to the underground areas seems to be open at the northern end but I wasn't kitted up for it

E07328 (19) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Bad pic down the entrance

E07328 (20) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
North emplacement rear with the two spigots in the undergrowth

E07328 (21) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Southern spigot pedestal

E07960 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
The Type 22 e11734

E11734 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E11734 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E11734 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E11734 (12) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Slightly inland is a very overgrown Type 27 e09982

E09982 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E09982 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E09982 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E09982 (9) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
The AA well entrance

E09982 (11) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E09982 (14) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E09982 (17) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Into Walcott next with A/T blocks e11971 at the southern end

E11971 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Two ex situ Spigots stand by the road e11949

E11949 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
And a Type 22 survives behind the caravan park e11735

E11735 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E11735 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E11735 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E11735 (11) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Lastly here are more A/T blocks on the north beach e08335

E08335 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E08335 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
On up to Bacton starting on a rack down to the sea is a Section Post e06815

E06815 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06815 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06815 (6) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06815 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06815 (11) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06815 (14) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E06815 (18) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Inland at Abbey Farm the remains of another section post listed as a loopholed wall e01284 with a Type 22 and yet another ex situ Spigot Pedestal

E01284 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01284 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
e23607

E 23607 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
e23442

E23442 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E23442 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E23442 (7) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E23442 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E23442 (10) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Another Type 22 in the Hedge behind the chalet park e03226

E03226 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03226 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03226 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03226 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Yet another discarded Spigot along the sea front not yet listed

DSC01283 by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Inland at Bacton Green a Type 22 e03224

E03224 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03224 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03224 (10) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03224 (14) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
With Spigot Mortar e23929 alongside

E23929 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E23929 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Across the Green a Type 24 with Turnbull Mounts once fitted in every embrasure bar one which has a larger different looking mount e04556

E04556 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E04556 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E04556 (12) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E04556 (11) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E04556 (15) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E04556 (20) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
There seems to be a Spigot either side of this one,south side now almost buried e07963

E07963 by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
and one unlisted on the north side

DSC01280 by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


DSC01281 by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Just inland of Bacton is a good example of a WW1 pillbox e01598 with one of its doors rusted solid and one that still opens.I noticed that the vent holes have pins across them presumably to stop anything being dropped in unlike the open WW2 ones.This one resides in a garden.

E01598 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (7) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (10) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (12) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (13) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (15) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01598 (16) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
On to Mundesley next where I didn't get any of the pillboxes due to access but found the roadblock which is out of place on the overlay e09535

E09535 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
And the Coast Battery e07037 All thats gone from this is the battery observation post and the the gun emplacement covers.The searchlights were atop of the two generator buildings so there were no CASL emplacements.

E07037 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (6) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (7) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (10) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (19) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (22) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (24) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (29) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (37) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (42) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E07037 (46) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

North of Mundesley by the road is another Type 22 with an AA mounting e03227

E03227 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03227 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03227 (6) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03227 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
And another the same on the seafront not quite in as good condition e09955

E09955 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E09955 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
The rest are just odd bits picked up on the days out and the ride home.Starting with Loopholed Wall e22670 in Cromer

E22670 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E22670 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E22670 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Spigot Mortar e08197 on the Muckleburgh Collection site.

E08197 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Along with another WW1 pillbox e06775

E06775 by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
One of the three lots of A/T blocks at Salthouse (missed the others somehow)e08343

E08343 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E08343 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E08343 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
Two of the Machine Gun Emplacements at Holkham e03008

E03008 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03008 (6) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03008 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03008 (10) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03008 (12) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03008 (16) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
e03009

E03009 (1) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (3) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (7) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (8) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (9) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (16) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (17) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
There are remains of some building between the two MG posts.Possibly a roadblock / checkpoint ?

E03009 (24) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (26) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E03009 (27) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
And finally (phew )a couple in Hunstanton.The Royal Naval style pillbox e01606

E01606 (5) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E01606 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr
And the final Spigot Mortar in the Golden Lion pub garden e08024

E08024 (4) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr


E08024 (2) by Rich Cooper2012, on Flickr

looks like you had a cracking day out there mate, RE: the coastal battery, the two entrances to the underground bits you took pics of are the mags, not a great deal to see, just a couple of rooms, however if you go to the right hand emplacement, looking at them ith your back to the sea, just next to it is a large log, roll that out the way and beneath it is a medium size hole, crawl down throuth that and you are in a nice set of tunnels with crew sleeping quarters in the middle, well worth a look as most people miss this bit when they go there.

also the pic of the pillbox with the AA mount on top, there is the same mount on a pillbox just out side the former chain low site at canewdon, interesting to see another.

Dave

I'll keep that in mind if we ever get back that way which is quite likely

I was just expecting a couple of snaps after your introduction lol. Looks like you had a good holiday.

Thats a cracking collection Rich thanks for sharing.

Slammer is a bunker man, love the pictures.
One thing that strikes me is how flimsy bunkers in Britain look in comparison with bunkers on the continent
I am not too sure how well brick or the rough gravely concrete used on UK bunkers and period concrete buildings shown in the pictures would fare if faced with penetrators.

Slammer said:

Slammer is a bunker man, love the pictures.
One thing that strikes me is how flimsy bunkers in Britain look in comparison with bunkers on the continent
I am not too sure how well brick or the rough gravely concrete used on UK bunkers and period concrete buildings shown in the pictures would fare if faced with penetrators.

Click to expand...

ALL the bunkers here were built within the space of 5 months by a tiny workforce with hardly any materials, the bunkers on the continent were built over a period of 4+ years using a vast workforce with the resources of most of europe behind them.

It's all about context!

Well that certainly cured the concrete porn itch,well done that man.

A woderious amout of Concrete porn you have shown us and all those spiggot mortars of when I have seen none yet. I am sorley jelous

krela said:

I was just expecting a couple of snaps after your introduction lol. Looks like you had a good holiday.

Click to expand...

Yea they did mount up a bit lol amazing amount of stuff left down that way though

night crawler said:

A woderious amout of Concrete porn you have shown us and all those spiggot mortars of when I have seen none yet. I am sorley jelous

Click to expand...

Its a regular spigot graveyard around there

krela said:

I was just expecting a couple of snaps after your introduction lol. Looks like you had a good holiday.

Click to expand...

I agree, it looks as if he had a great time but if he didn’t catch hell from his wife he should out of common decency share his secret with us lesser mortals, whenever I pissed off exploring while on holiday, even after a bouquet of flowers, dinner out and an abject apology Iwas still in doghouse.
Great post R.C lovely pics I particular liked the sunken pillbox, Thanks

smiler said:

I agree, it looks as if he had a great time but if he didn’t catch hell from his wife he should out of common decency share his secret with us lesser mortals, whenever I pissed off exploring while on holiday, even after a bouquet of flowers, dinner out and an abject apology Iwas still in doghouse.
Great post R.C lovely pics I particular liked the sunken pillbox, Thanks

Click to expand...

Its all in the initial training

RichCooper said:

Its all in the initial training

Click to expand...

Now you tell me! Close to fifty years late, ah well thanks anyway.

Lovely stuff - I was sad when there were no more photos to look at. Great road trip

Nice work Rich, helluva haul

krela said:

ALL the bunkers here were built within the space of 5 months by a tiny workforce with hardly any materials, the bunkers on the continent were built over a period of 4+ years using a vast workforce with the resources of most of europe behind them.

It's all about context!

Click to expand...

Add to that, the Germans, and particularly Hitler, couldn't do anything on a small scale. The UK defences were built with the expected enemy armour they would face in mind, the Atlantic wall et al was the epitome of overkill.

krill said:

ALL the bunkers here were built within the space of 5 months by a tiny workforce with hardly any materials, the bunkers on the continent were built over a period of 4+ years using a vast workforce with the resources of most of europe behind them.

It's all about context!

Click to expand...

Not doubting that for one second, but I am not talking about the German bunkers per-se but the European bunkers, if you look at the French bunkers of WW1 vintage you see that they are of a far more complex design and better built then those of the Germans of that period.
The Germans learnt their lessons and in the 1930ies they designed a system of prefab designs called "Regalbauten" a system of standardized modules that could be combined to so-called "Festungswerke" like the Atlantikwall. These Regalbauten were designed in accord with the Treaty of Versailles and first used in the Wetterau-Main-Tauber-bunkersystem and the Neckar-Enz-system in 1936. Pathfinding of these Proto-atlantik-wall bunkers started in 1935 and the building time from planing to finished construction was under a year, with strengthening work carried out in 1937.
In continental bunkers you can see a evolution of fortifications that the British simply did not have, the bunkers in Britain seem not to have evolved much since the Napolionic wars, perhaps as a result of Britain not being invaded. What ever the reason it could be that you can read the strategic thinking of the time in the bunkers that were built.
But I am rambling here, I would like to suggest a sector on this forum for bunkers both European and British for a direct comparison, it could make for quite a few interesting hours.

Slammer said:

Not doubting that for one second, but I am not talking about the German bunkers per-se but the European bunkers, if you look at the French bunkers of WW1 vintage you see that they are of a far more complex design and better built then those of the Germans of that period.
The Germans learnt their lessons and in the 1930ies they designed a system of prefab designs called "Regalbauten" a system of standardized modules that could be combined to so-called "Festungswerke" like the Atlantikwall. These Regalbauten were designed in accord with the Treaty of Versailles and first used in the Wetterau-Main-Tauber-bunkersystem and the Neckar-Enz-system in 1936. Pathfinding of these Proto-atlantik-wall bunkers started in 1935 and the building time from planing to finished construction was under a year, with strengthening work carried out in 1937.
In continental bunkers you can see a evolution of fortifications that the British simply did not have, the bunkers in Britain seem not to have evolved much since the Napolionic wars, perhaps as a result of Britain not being invaded. What ever the reason it could be that you can read the strategic thinking of the time in the bunkers that were built.
But I am rambling here, I would like to suggest a sector on this forum for bunkers both European and British for a direct comparison, it could make for quite a few interesting hours.

Click to expand...

Nope you've still completely missed the point but never mind. It was always assumed that the UK would never be invaded because the 12+ miles of water plus our military/naval might would be enough. After Dunkirk this proved at risk and so a plan had to be made with the likely pattern of invasion in mind and with extremely limited resources. Common wisdom suggests it was likely to be more effective than the Atlantik wall turned out to be, despite how half arsed it looked.

And there is a section for ww2 defences, this thread is in it!

have to say I agree with the above, the defences built in Britain were considered appropriate for what would have been thrown at them, blitzkrieg was not an option for the germans until they could have secured a foothold large enough to support it.

No! I am getting the point completely, the British bunkers were of a totally different design and as you say built rather in a kind of hurry after 1940, I am not disputing that in any aspect.
Whereas the Continental bunkers were built with the Vaubanic style of overlapping fire in mind the British ones tended to use a 360° cover in a single bunker, with a few exceptions like the type 23 and the type 28, however the type 23 was considered "bullet proof" only.
Interesting for me to find out that in case of a German invasion Britain had adopted a "line" system with the so-called GHQ Line (General Headquarters Line, being the best known) to prevent the Axis from reaching London and the industrial centers.