Monument record 8617/1/1 - South Bridge Road Block/Defended Locality

Site of one of Northampton's original seventeen Second World War anti-tank island roadblocks constructed of steel rails. South Bridge, Far Cotton, Northampton.

{1} South Bridge Road Block/Defended Locality. This was one of the original 17 road blocks placed around Northampton in 1940. In mid-1941, the defences were strenghened with the use of concrete cylinders. These were used as an outer defence to prevent enemy tanks making a rush at the steel rails. 276 such cylinders were installed around Northampton during August of that year. The following month Northampton was designated a Nodal point and 14 of the 17 road blocks were dismantled. The remaining three, including this one, were retained, strenghtened still furhter and redesignated Defended Localities. There are no surviving details of the defences at South Bridge but they are no doubt followed the same lines as those of St Peters Bridge further down the river.

{4} One of the original 17 Northampton roadblocks constructed of steel rails. The roadblock was reinforced with concrete cylinders in mid 1941. It was retained in September 1941, when 14 of the road blocks were removed, and strengthened and re-designated a Defended Locality. Concrete cylinders from removed roadblocks were reused at three defence localities, and others were made. In all there were 750 cylinders provided for the defence of Northampton. Road block and defended locality were manned by 12th Btn Northamptonshire Home Guard (Northampton Borough) from 16 August 1940 until 1944.
For further information see SRF. South Bridge, Far Cotton, Northampton.

<1> HOLLOWELL S., 1998, Defence of Britain recording forms-South Bridge, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN51557.

<2> Barnes L.E., 1946, History of the 12th Northamptonshire Battalion Home Guard 1940-1944, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN55036.

<3> Holloway B.G., 1949, The Northamptonshire Home Guard 1940-45, (unchecked) (Book). SNN55038.

<4> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<5> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

Nov 16 2023 4:23PM