Monument record 7125/0/2 - ARP Feature and air raid shelter by Grand Union Canal

A WW2 brick and concrete roofed shelter located adjacent to 'stop planks' used to prevent serious flooding if the canal was damaged by enemy action.

{1} 2 photos of ‘ARP Groove Irons’ set in canal side adjacent bridge.

{2} The canal-side shelter is sited here because of its relationship to the adjacent groove irons.
"Stop planks" were used on long stretches of canals, to prevent serious flooding if the canal was damaged by enemy action. These would be inserted into "groove irons" in either side of the canal. It would seem that stop planks were usually placed under bridges - possibly due to the concrete sides used to support the bridge abuttment being ideal locations for the groove irons. They also seem to be located near to targets (eg Weedon Depot?), placing the canal at risk where it passes the site.

{3, 4} Brick and concrete roofed shelter (presumed of WW2 origin) besides the west side of the A5 bridge over the grand Union Canal. The entrance is in the left hand side of the south face and the roof on the east side once continued beyond the line of the wall as the concrete has been chipped away and the reinforcement bent back over the roof. This could be a domestic surface shelter or possibly a Home guard Store for a road block on the bridge? Photo.

<1> Armishaw, A., 2000, A5 Bridge - Grand Union Canal, (checked) (Photographs). SNN101959.

<2> Armishaw A., 1999, Letter concerning various military remains, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN106784.

<3> Armishaw A., 2005, Letters concerning miltary remains, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN106785.

<4> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, p.355 (unchecked) (Report). SNN104868.

Record last edited

Jul 29 2020 10:07AM