Monument record 1237/1 - Passenham WWII Anti-Aircraft Battery

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Summary

Site of World War II anti-aircraft battery seen on air photograph, previously interpreted as ring ditches of Bronze Age date. Air photographs taken in 1947 clearly show them as earthworks overlying ridge and furrow. They occur at the edge of an area of pasture formerly known as Windmill Field but no earthworks are visible on modern remote sensing imagery.

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

{1}Attention was drawn to a series of 6 circles on an AP, at the edge of a pasture once known as Windmill Field, NGR 778403, spilling over to an adjacent pasture. One of St Joseph's photographs shows four circles. The Stoney Stratford Hoard (SP 74 SE) was found in that field.

{2} A group of circular cropmarks have been described as Bronze Age barrows, but are of standard WWII anti-aircraft battery type.

{3} Monument unique identifier number: 343107, NMR number: SP74 SE13. Summary Description: "Second World War anti aircraft battery. Misinterpreted as ring ditches." This refers to three conjoined circular earthworks/cropmarks identified on air photos. Main description as follows: "A group of circular cropmarks visible on air photographs have been described as ring ditches, probably Bronze Age barrows. They are in fact the remains of a Second World War anti-aircraft battery, of a standard pattern noted elsewhere in the county (eg. RCHME Northants III 1981 28, 32, 97). They are still visible as earthworks overlying ridge and furrow on air photographs taken in 1947"(refs A/P (CUAP ZJ50-2); A/P (RAF VAP CPE/UK/2097, 3185-6); RCHME Inventory Northants IV p.108 Old Stratford (note)).

{4} DX016 Passenham. One of eight search lights, ’Killer Zone cluster sites in south-west Northamptonshire, seven with convertible MGRs (six of which are in Northants). Many others are mentioned by name but without a grid reference. As yet unable to find a list of all of the sites in the area, as the files for the batteries in the area are unavailable. Note also a search light at Biddlesden in Bucks SP63693989.

{5} "A group of circular cropmarks visible on air photographs (CUAP ZJ50-2) have been described as ring ditches, probably Bronze Age barrows (SP779402). They are in fact the remains of a World War II anti-aircraft battery, of a standard pattern noted elsewhere in the county (eg. RCHME Northants. III (1981), 28, 32, 97). They are still visible as earthworks overlying ridge and furrow on air photographs taken in 1947 (RAF VAP CPE/UK/2097, 3185-6).

{6} Six ring ditches are visible on an aerial photo in the possession of Dr O.F. Brown of Deanshanger. They are situated on the edge of the pasture and spilling onto the adjacent pasture.

{7} The document describes the arrival of the 323 search light battery RA to take over this site in late August 194?, along with eight others in Northants/Warwicks. The site is described as DX 016 Passenham at MGR 83/230597 (NGR much as those above).
WO166/3082 64 S/L Bty RA 39-41: 64th (Essex) S/L Regiment to 72 lights. 441 Battery to take over the following cluster sites from the 72nd SL Regiment forming part of an Indicator Zone- includes Pury End, Ashton & Stony Stratford within DX01 Area.

{8} Modern cropmark. Four circles visible on one of St Josephs aerial photo's.

{9} Fieldname: Windmill Field.

{11} These crop marks fall in a recently ploughed field, but perambulation produced nothing of interest

{12} No earthworks visible.


<1> 1962, Wolverton and District Archaeological Newsletter, p.12 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN26368.

<2> Buckinghamshire County Museum Records, (unchecked) (Mention). SNN28151.

<3> RCHME Monarch Database, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN39866.

<4> Armishaw A., 2001, War Diary of 318 Searchlight Battery: June 1940 - December 1941, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN101894.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.108 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP74SE13 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> Armishaw A., 1939-1941, WO 166/3150 318 S/L Bty RA June 1940-Dec 1941, (unchecked) (Document). SNN101764.

<8> Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Archive). SNN36655.

<9> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP: SP7740/006-10 (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<10> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1966, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies (Air Photography), 1/20 (checked) (Article). SNN40027.

<11> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, 21/OCT (Notes). SNN111907.

<12> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, Accessed 03/06/2024 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

Sources/Archives (12)

  • <1> Newsletter: 1962. Wolverton and District Archaeological Newsletter. Wolverton and District Archaeological Newsletter. 7. p.12 (checked).
  • <2> Mention: Buckinghamshire County Museum Records. (unchecked).
  • <3> Uncertain: RCHME Monarch Database. (unchecked).
  • <4> Letter: Armishaw A.. 2001. War Diary of 318 Searchlight Battery: June 1940 - December 1941. 23/09/2001. 23/9/01. (unchecked).
  • <5> Series: Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England. 1982. An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton. 4. HMSO. p.108 (checked).
  • <6> Index: Ordnance Survey. 1950s/1960s. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. Ordnance Survey. SP74SE13 (checked).
  • <7> Document: Armishaw A.. 1939-1941. WO 166/3150 318 S/L Bty RA June 1940-Dec 1941. (unchecked).
  • <8> Archive: Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. (unchecked).
  • <9> Aerial Photograph(s): Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs. NCCAP: SP7740/006-10 (unchecked).
  • <10> Article: Brown A.E. (ed.). 1966. Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies (Air Photography). Bulletin of Northants Federation of Arch. Socs.. 1. Northants. Arch. Society. 1/20 (checked).
  • <11> Notes: Seaman, BH. 1969. Field investigators comments. English Heritage. 21/OCT.
  • <12> Digital Plots: Environment Agency. LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m. https://data.gov.uk/dataset/6a117171-5c59-4c7d-8e8b-8e7aefe8ee2e/lidar-composite-dtm-1m. Accessed 03/06/2024.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (5)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Location

Grid reference Centred SP 779 402 (150m by 208m) Approximate
Civil Parish OLD STRATFORD, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Other Statuses/References

  • NRHE HOB UID: 343107

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:18PM

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