Monument record 9704/18 - WW2 military ordnance dump, Harrold Road

A Second World War military ordnance dump is visible as buildings on historic aerial photographs. Located along Harrold Road, 9 rectangular military buildings / covered ammunition stands that extend over 75 metres. These were storage areas for the Sharnbrook Forward Ammunition Supply Depot (AAF-583) (NRHE 1619112), used for bomb and ammunition storage to supply operational airbases occupied by the 1st Air Division of the US 8th Air Force. Military stores were delivered to Sharnbrook railway station and then dispersed into storage areas alongside public roads. Aerial photographs taken in 1949 show that all the ordnance dump buildings/structures have been demolished by that time.

{1-2} A Second World War military ordnance dump is visible as buildings on historic aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. Located along Harrold Road and centred at SP 92774 59948, 9 rectangular military buildings / covered ammunition stands, each about 3.5 x 2.5 metres, are set out in 4 pairs and a single structure along the south side of the road over about 75 metres. These ammunition dumps were storage areas for the Sharnbrook Forward Ammunition Supply Depot (AAF-583) (NRHE 1619112), an Ordnance Depot used for bomb and ammunition storage to supply operational airbases occupied by the 1st Air Division of the US 8th Air Force. Military stores were delivered by rail to Sharnbrook station, whereupon they were deposited into these storage areas dispersed alongside public roads. Aerial photographs taken in 1949 show that all the ordnance dump buildings/structures have been demolished by that time.

<1> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1940s, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in the 1940s. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN112713.

<2> Vertical Aerial Photograph, RAF/541/341 RP 3134 15-AUG-1949 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<3> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP, MD003015 (Archive). SNN113023.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 6:46PM