Building record 1295/1/14 - Polebrook Airfield Battle HQ

A World War Two battle headquarters associated with Polebrook Airfield. The concrete and brick structure was built to design 11008/41 (in other words a 1941 pattern). It is situated in a hedgerow beside the Polebrook-Lutton road. The purpose of the battle headquarters was to form the hub of the airfield's defences in the event of a ground attack. The design included an observation cupola above ground linked to underground rooms

{2} Reported by M. Osborne March 1997 as 11008/41 standard at TL091872.

{3} Located in hedgerow at roadside. The partially flooded interior was not fully accessible; some interior fittings/wiring appears to be in situ. Good/fair condition.

{4} World War II battle headquarters at Polebrook Airfield. It was constructed between 1939 and 1945 but at the time of the Defence of Britain survey the site was in an uncertain condition. [from NRHE record 1419525]

{6} A World War Two battle headquarters associated with Polebrook Airfield, at Lutton, Northamptonshire, TL 1006 8697. The concrete and brick structure was built to design 11008/41. It is situated in a hedgerow beside the Polebrook-Lutton road. The purpose of the battle headquarters was to form the hub of the airfield's defences in the event of a ground attack. The battle headquarters was said to be in fair condition when visited in 1997.[from NRHE record 1408459]

{7} The Defence of Britain handbook notes that the 11008/41 was the most common type of battle headquarters. The concrete observation cupola was above ground, there were also underground rooms in this design.

<1> Site Plan (For Polebrook Airfield), (unchecked) (Plan). SNN102300.

<2> Osborne M., 1997, List of Northamptonshire Pillboxes, (unchecked) (Document). SNN39599.

<3> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, p.18+88-94 (unchecked) (Report). SNN104868.

<4> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources, S0004376 (Database). SNN112922.

<5> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

<6> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources, S0005881 (Database). SNN112922.

<7> Brown, I, 1995, 20th century defences in Britain : an introductory guide, p. 124-5 (Book). SNN113479.

Record last edited

May 20 2022 2:31PM