Monument record 8540/1/32 - Seagull trenches

A group of three World War Two "seagull" trenches surrounding the battle headquarters at the former RAF station of Hinton-in-the -Hedges Airfield. They may have been constructed in 1941. The trenches are lined with concrete and brick, with a concrete roof covered with turf. In plan they appear to have a flattened "W" shape, whence the name "seagull" due to the similarity to the simplified shape of a gull in flight. These examples were said to be in fair condition when recorded in 1995.

{1} Type 11008/41 battle Headquarters surrounded by two 'mushroom' cantilever pillboxes with earth revetment, and three seagull trenches. Brickwalls with cement facing + concrete roof." Fair condition. "Battle HQ periodically fills with water which has removed cement facing from brickwork. Sketch plan, location plan, four colour photographs, extract plans and scale plans and sections. Identified on War Ministry Record Site Plan as building No 65.

{2} A group of three World War Two seagull trenches noted on the Defence of Britain Database surrounding the battle headquarters at the former RAF station of Hinton-in-the -Hedges Airfield, at Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Northamptonshire, SP 550 372. The record states that they were constructed in the period 1940-1941 (however the battle headquarters is a 1941 pattern, so if they "surround" it they are presumably not earlier than 1941). The trenches are constructed of concrete and brick. They were said to be in fair condition when recorded in 1995. The record notes that the trenches appear on the Northamptonshire Sites and Monuments Record as 8540/1/19.

<1> Armishaw A., 1995, DEFENCE OF BRITAIN RECORDING FORMS, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN51415.

<2> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<3> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 8:44PM