Black Joy Fort
Has been described as a Possible Artillery Fort
There are earthwork remains
| Name | Black Joy Fort |
| Alternative Names | Weybourne Hoop; Waybourne Hope; Cley; Clay |
| Historic Country | Norfolk |
| Modern Authority | Norfolk |
| 1974 Authority | Norfolk |
| Civil Parish | Cley Next The Sea |
During the invasion scare of 1587, Edmund Yorke drew up a complex plan of an earthwork rampart backing Salthouse Marshes, with tow forts at either end, one adjoining the rampart at Weybourne, the other separated from the rampart at Cley Haven. This latter fort, Black Joy Fort was planned to be a six-pointed star fort with ravelins between each face, the first example of such an advanced design in England. it was probably Yorke's solution to the rapid rebuilding of an existing unbastioned sconce. Some part of the defences existed then as orders were given to enlarge 'the sconce at Weybourne Hoop'. It is unlikely that the plan was was cried out beyond strengthening the extant sconce as the Armada commenced soon after the plan was drawn up. (PastScape ref. Kent, 1988)
A sinuous ditch and bank were found in Cow Hole saltmarsh, to the north of Cley village and west of the Glaven channel (between TG 04641 44993 and TG 04688 45222). They defined a roughly rectangular raised area measuring 170m north to south by 50m east to west These earthworks may be shown on a map dating to 1769 and were recorded in 1951. The 1953 floods did not destroy them as once thought. They could be the remains of 'Black Joy forte', a fort shown on a map from 1588 and proposed as a defence against the Spanish Armada. (Norfolk HER ref. 2004, Norfolk Rapid Coastal Survey)
Not scheduled
Not Listed
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | TG046451 |
| Latitude | 52.9646186828613 |
| Longitude | 1.04635000228882 |
| Eastings | 604650 |
| Northings | 345100 |
