North Norfolk Coast History

43 ECHOES

Location: King'S Lynn, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom

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This isn't 'a walk' as such, it's more a collection of interesting places in North Norfolk. Some are close to each other, but generally they tend to be quite far apart. You could walk between them, but it would take you a while!

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The Village Signs of Babingley

According to historical accounts, Babingley is believed to be the very place where St. Felix, who became Apostle to East Anglia, landed in the year 615. The Wuffingas, who were the East Anglian royal family, had invited Felix to evangelize to their kingdom. Aiming, naturally, for the East Anglian capital of Rendlesham, Felix is said to have instead arrived in Babingley after being shipwrecked during a violent storm on the River Babingley.

The Steam Trawler Sheraton

The Sheraton was built in 1907 by Cook, Welton and Gemmell of Beverley, Yorkshire. She was owned by the Standard Steam Fishing Company of Grimbsy and was commissioned as a deep sea trawler.

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World War II Spigot Mortar Emplacement #1

Spigot mortar emplacements are relatively common along the North Norfolk Coast.

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The Vicuna

The story of the Vicuna, a 330-ton vessel which left Latvik in Norway on 23rd March 1883, bound for her home port of Hull with a cargo of ice. A fierce storm ensued and the Vicuna was shipwrecked here on 7th April the same year. For more information visit https://thewreckoftheweek.com/tag/norfolk/

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Seahenge

An ancient Bronze Age circle that lay hidden for 4,000 years.

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Holme Dune Ranges, WW2 Target Practice Narrow Gauge Railway

Here there used to be a WW2 target practice narrow gauge railway. The image attached to this echo shows red, blue and yellow lines mark target tracks for cable-hauled target trolleys. There are five bunkers which were shelters for crews maintaining the targets / trolleys. At the apex of the three lines is a substantial complex that held the winching machinery.

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World War II Spigot Mortar Emplacement #2

Spigot mortar emplacements are relatively common along the North Norfolk Coast.

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East Sands

I have no information about this!

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Titchwell Tanks Winch House

Between 1942 and 1945, Titchwell was used by the Royal Tank Regiment as a firing range. A special concrete road was built to bring tanks onto the site. Shells rained down on the hulks of tanks, while instructors kept score from a watchtower. The tank gunners practised by firing blank shells at targets attached to wire cables pulled across what is now a freshwater marsh and a brackish marsh.

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Covenator Tanks

The partially (depending upon the shifting sands) buried, wrecked hulls of two tanks

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Titchwell

I have no information about this!

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Titchwell

The remains of the concrete structure half way along the last section of the West bank path are part of a First World War observation post, which was let as holiday accommodation by a Mr Annis up until 1942. It was furnished, and people would sunbathe on the flat roof. When the military moved in during WW2 to use the marsh as the tank firing range, Mr Annis was very reluctant to give up the blockhouse. Apparently, he was persuaded to do so when the Army fired a few high explosive shells into the air.

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Titchwell

Two WWI observation posts stand in the dunes on the Brancaster side of the main tidal creek. These were operated as holiday homes by a Mr. Stratton. When this area became a tank firing range during WW2, Mr. Stratton was easily persuaded to move out.

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Titchwell

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Titchwell Chalk Pit

'Titchwell' means 'Young goat spring or stream'.

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The Brancaster Underground Passages

Ten or more years ago, the Ship Inn at Brancaster, now the Ship Hotel, underwent a refurbishment. During the process, the builders took up some floorboards and discovered some hidden underground passages.

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A Sad Brancaster Tale from 1833

In the gale of 1st September 1833, the Leith Packet ship the Earl of Wemyss’ aground off Brancaster. All crew and the male passengers survived the gale, but the six women and four children on board, all drowned.

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Branodunum

Branodunum was an ancient Roman fort that was built around 230 AD and is of a typical rectangular Roman castrum layout. Its Roman name derives from the local Celtic language, and may mean "fort of the raven".

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Barrow Common, World War II Radar Station

From 1940 to 1944 this site was manned as a radar station to detect aircraft, especially low-flying ones, attacking the country.

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Barrow Common, Mast Bases

In 1942, when the RAF took over the site from the army, the ‘bedstead’ aerial was replaced by a lattice tower. In this 1946 aerial photograph, four square structures can be seen. These were the concrete footings for the radar mast which was probably about 200ft high. This replacement mast increased the radar's range considerably.

The footings can still be seen today. They're at https://w3w.co/declining.extent.lives, https://w3w.co/priced.jammy.balanced, https://w3w.co/dimension.spent.wage and https://w3w.co/rezoning.tastes.trek.

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Barrow Common, Slit Trench

In this 1946 aerial photographs a small section of zig zag shaped slit trench can be seen. This may have been a defensive feature or possibly a practice trench.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #1.

American Radar Newscast.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #2

A fire engine racing through the streets during the Blitz.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #3

A briefing for some RAF crews prior to a raid.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #4

The crew of an Avro Lancaster bomber recorded during a raid.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #5

Bombers.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #6

RAF Spitfires as they 'scramble'.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #7

A montage of air-raid sounds, including the air-raid siren, bombing and the 'all-clear'.

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Barrow Common, Main Block #8

Sounds of an air-raid in progress.

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AA Box 530

The oldest AA telephone box in Norfolk.

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Brancaster Staithe Harbour

Barley, beer and the Brancaster Malthouse. Coal, fish and grain - the history of the quay.

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De Havilland Constant Speed Propeller

From a Bristol Blenheim L6641, 254 Sqn RAF Bircham Newton, which crashed off Scolt Head Island on January 6th 1940. Netted by local fishermen in 2018.

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The SS Vina

At Brancaster Beach the shipwreck of the SS Vina can be viewed from the coast. Built in 1894 she spent her working life travelling the Baltic Trade routes before being requisitioned for the war effort in 1940.

WARNING: Each year many people are rescued by the RNLI after crossing to see the SS Vina shipwreck. To get to the wreck you have to cross a tidal sea water channel. People have sadly lost their lives in the past by becoming stranded by an incoming tide. BEWARE OR DO NOT GO THERE!

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