Monument record 1163/0/1 - Possible WWII Searchlight Battery

Earthworks of a round mound with an external ring ditch, seen on aerial photos. It appears to cut the medieval ridge and furrow and is interpreted as a WWII battery.

{1} Earthworks of a round mound with an external ring ditch, seen on aerial photos. It appears to cut the medieval ridge and furrow and is interpreted as a WWII battery.

{2} During WWII "there were anti-aircraft gun stations and searchlights in the field before the mill by the Oundle Road, and in Town End Close at the bottom of Church Street. Their earthworks can still be seen. "The former must be that identified above at TL0173 8064. The latter is presumably situated close to the village? Belgion also refers to the night watching maintained from the church tower 1941 until suspended in June 1943.

{3} Additional note 3/10/97: field concerned now believed ploughed with earthworks destroyed. Note this may be a searchlight rather than an anti-aircraft site.

{4} Aerial photo NCCAP:TL0180/018.

{5} Cropmarks of a possible round mound with surrounding ditch lying over ridge and furrow seen on air photographs in 1979.

{6} Cropmarks, two linear ditches at TL 018 807 and a ring ditch at TL 018 808 seen on air photographs in 1982.

<1> FOARD G.R., 1979, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51380.

<2> Belgion H., 1979, Titchmarsh Past and Present, p.107 (unchecked) (Book). SNN39865.

<3> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, p.60 (unchecked) (Report). SNN104868.

<4> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<5> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1980, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1979, page 179 (Article). SNN56490.

<6> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), page 180 (Notes). SNN100412.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 7:53PM