Monument record 9704/51 - WW2 military ordnance dump, Dungee Road

A Second World War military ordnance dump is visible as buildings on historic aerial photographs. Located along Dungee Road, 11 rectangular military buildings / covered ammunition stands that extend over 130 metres. These were storage areas for the Sharnbrook Forward Ammunition Supply Depot (AAF-583), 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 but 3 of the ordnance dump buildings/structures have been demolished by that time.

{1-3} 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 Dungee Road and centred at SP 92984 59898, 11 rectangular military buildings / covered ammunition stands, each about 3.5 x 2.5 metres, are set out along both sides of the road over about 130 metres. These ammunition dumps were storage areas for the Sharnbrook Forward Ammunition Supply Depot (AAF-583), 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 but 3 of the ordnance dump buildings/structures have been demolished by that time, with the remaining 3 having been demolished by 1968.

<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 3138 15-AUG-1949 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<3> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1968, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in 1968. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN112712.

<4> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP, MD003015 (Archive). SNN113023.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 6:26PM