Happisburgh Patrol

Bacton Wood is owned by the Forestry Commission and managed through a partnership with North Norfolk District Council. The woodland is open to the public. The woodland is located about 1.5 miles to the north-east of North Walsham and roughly the same distance to the west of Witton Bridge. The OB site is situated near a path leading along the northern edge.

A deep crater is all that remains. We presume that the structure, including all materials was removed by the Forestry Commission when the woodland was developed as a recreational area for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

According to Mr Owles and his sister, both of whom were taken to the site by their late father in the 1950s and who have visited the OB several times since, the main chamber consisted of a Nissen hut type structure with a curved roof and a drop down entrance shaft lined with corrugated sheets at its southern end.

The estimated size of the OB is 3 x 5 metres with a N/S -- 164ft ASL Orientation.

The entrance cover was camouflaged with a layer of leaves.

A pipe hidden within a hollow tree stump was placed near the entrance. According to Mr Owles this concealed pipe was used for dropping messages down into the chamber.

The main chamber was adjoined at the north-east end by a small room used for storing explosives.

The emergency escape exit was situated by the north-west corner. From there the exit passage ran in a zig-zag course for 45 metres, emerging at the woodland’s edge. The whole length of it was covered with corrugated sheeting.