| Suffolk HER Number (Pref. Ref.): | LWT 045 |
|---|
| Unique number (MonUID): | MSX27444 |
|---|
| Type of Record: | Monument |
|---|
| Parish: | LOWESTOFT, WAVENEY, SUFFOLK |
|---|
| NGR: | TM 5214 9464 |
|---|
Summary
The site of an extensive World War Two anti-tank defensive system, consisting of anti-tank cubes, barbed wire obstructions and scaffolding, is visible on aerial photographs surrounding the northern perimeter of Lowestoft, from the Lowestoft Denes to Lake Lothing and Oulton Broad.
Monument Types
Associated Finds: None recorded
Protected Status: None recorded
Description
A line of anti-tank cubes over 1km long can be seen on 1940 aerial photographs (S1), running along the beach between Lowestoft Denes and south of Corton. At TM54772939, another line of anti-tank cubes can be seen running inland to the west for approx 1km. This feature can be seen on aerial photographs throughout the period of World War II. Aerial photographs from 1946 (S2) show the anti-tank cubes on the whole still 'in situ', but some have been smashed and moved. On current maps, there are still small sections of concrete blocks labelled, demonstrating that some have survived through to the present day. A possible military earthwork and structure can be seen near its western end at circa TM53929627.
Line of anti-tank blocks at Tramps Alley, Corton (S3).
March 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
The site of an extensive World War Two anti-tank defensive system, consisting of anti-tank cubes, barbed wire obstructions and scaffolding, is visible on aerial photographs surrounding the northern perimeter of Lowestoft, from the Lowestoft Denes to Lake Lothing and Oulton Broad (S4-S9). This along with the anti-tank ditch at Corton (COR 035) and other defences, such as BLN 045, formed the major anti-invasion defences. The scaffolding component of this site located to the eastern edge is continuous with the scaffolding previously recorded as LWT 051.
Specific defended points associated with this anti-tank system have been recorded separately, for example LWT 194-LWT 198 and LWT 283, whilst small isolated structures, such as the embanked gun emplacement at TM 5221 9428 have been included within this larger site.
Due to the limited timescales for this mapping the lines of anti-tank cubes have been depicted as a continuous line.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 20th March 2014.
Sources
| [S1] | Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. 2/BR11/16 FrmsA12-A14 19-Jul-1940. (SSF50005) |
| [S2] | Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. 106G/UK 1633 Frm5084 9-Jul-1946. (SSF50005) |
| [S3] | Bibliographic reference: Osborne, M. with Kerr, A. G.. 2008. 20th Century Defences in Britain. Suffolk. p. 160. (SSF53995) |
| [S4] | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/LA/27 RP 3087-3088 05-AUG-1944 (EHA). (SSX55025) |
| [S5] | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/LA/27 RP 3087-3089 05-AUG-1944 (EHA). (SSX55025) |
| [S6] | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/LA/21 RP 3052-3054 04-JUL-1944 (EHA). (SSX55025) |
| [S7] | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/UK/930 RP 3117-3119 16-OCT-1945 (EHA). (SSX55025) |
| [S8] | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/UK/930 RS 4115-6 16-OCT-1945 (EHA). (SSX55025) |
| [S9] | Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical Aerial Photograph. RAF/106G/UK/761 RV 6031-6034 02-SEP-1945 (EHA). (SSX55025) |
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.