Monument record 8512/2 - WWII General Purpose Store & Cold War Buffer Store

The building is identified as buffer depot 336N which was operated by Brooks Wharf and Bull Wharf Ltd. Identified as the only one of this type in the county

{1} Location of the WW2 general purpose store and later Cold War buffer depot. Could be only one of its type in the county. The stores held a strategic stockpile of food and were large enough to permit rapid removal of valuable imported goods from high risk port areas. (Could be the same as 8512/1, but grid co-ordinates different).

{2} The building is identified as buffer depot 336N which was operated by Brooks Wharf and Bull Wharf Ltd. These buildings are now a cane furniture shop and look to be in good condition. A 'hardened' office annexe and static water tank might be found on site.
The Harborough Road Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) Buffer depot was the only one of its type in the county - though he does emphasise that his listing information is both incomplete and out of date. The Northampton example lay within Home Defence Region 3 along with stores in Notts, Leicestershire, Derby and Lincoln. Campbell estimates that the amount of emergency stockpile in such stores "would certainly be less than 2 weeks supply for the peacetime popultation, possibly far less". Stores intended to hold emergency food stocks plus supply emergency cooking equipment. Major stocks at the time of publication of his book reported to be flour, sugar, margarine and fats, glucose sweets, sweet biscuits and yeast. Corned beef held up until the 1960s. Campbell goes on to say that the Buffer Depot network was set up during WWII and that the principles of the stockpile date from that period. Depots said to be by private companies on behalf of MAFF. Dispersal pattern was based on WWII requirements and most depots would have been very vulnerable in the event of nuclear war being built of brick with asbestos roofs.

{3} According to Cocroft and Thomas the system of buffer depots was established in WWII. Experience of U-boat blockades in both World Wars and of potential disruption from heavy bombing highlighted the need to maintain stocks of food and raw materials within the county. Post war, the greater threat of atomic weapons added a new dimension to the stockpiling, whole areas might be devastated and transit through impossible. It could also take many months for re-supply from overseas.
The stores held a strategic stockpile of food and were large enough to permit rapid removal of valuable imported goods from high risk port areas. One of the factors in choice of site was availability of good transport links; all depots served by road, most also next to rail or waterway. In 1952 there were 260 storage depots; the number fell by half by mid decade. The wartime built stores were purpose built; funded by government and built to Ministry of Works drawing types but managed on behalf of Ministry of Food by commercial wharf owners and storage companies. Five categories of stores definable- cold stores (as at Boughton - now lost), grain silos (as at Whitworths, Lt Irchester), fuel stores (as at Kelmarsh?), general purpose stores (as here) and miscellaneous depots. Some 160 general purpose stores were built in 1941 or 1942. Standard form was 214 by 120 feet providing some 25,000 square feet (2,300 square metres) of space. Buildings were steel framed with brick panel walls; roofs and upper parts of gables of asbestos sheet -asbestos also used for gutters and rainwater pipes. Stores generally entered through sliding doors in one side wall and usually incorporated an office, sometimes hardened to serve as a refuge during air-raids. A water pool for fire fighting was often found close by. Some stores were erected in the early 1950's. "The only minor variant in the form is that .. Stores .. Have a clerestory roof, with windows in a raised section at gable level."
Potentially of county importance.

<1> Cadman G., 2003, WWII General Purpose Store & Cold War Buffer Store, Harborough Road, Northampton, (checked) (Note). SNN103378.

<2> Campbell D., 1983, War Plan UK: The Truth About Civil Defence in Britain, p.288 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104601.

<3> Cocroft W.; Thomas R., 2003, Cold War: Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946-1989, (unchecked) (Book). SNN103133.

Record last edited

Nov 29 2016 10:15AM