Monument record 8658/0/1 - WWII Road Block

Situated at Towcester on the A5 by the North Bridge and immediately south of the then overhead railway bridge near the old Greens Norton turning. One of the World War II road blocks constructed by Northamptonshire County Council on behalf of the Central Midland Command. The carriageway was not permanently blocked but steel stanchions and/or sand bags and lump stone were provided in order to close the road quickly in the event of an emergency.

{1}Situated at Towcester on the A5 by the North Bridge and immediately south of the then overhead railway bridge near the old Greens Norton turning. The configuration of the roads has now changed. This was one of the road blocks to be constructed by the County Council by mid-July, 1940, on behalf of Central Midland Command on a site approved by the C.R.E. Warwickshire District. When authority for the area was transferred to Northern Command, construction was suspended. Most road blocks were either complete, however, or had enough materials supplied so that they could be completed. The carriageway was not permanently blocked but could be blocked quickly in an emergency if the need arose. The site is now destroyed.

<1> HOLLOWELL S., 1998, Defence of Britain recording forms, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN51600.

<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> 1940, LETTERS, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN60670.

<5> Wright J.J., 1969, Photograph Album, (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN55680.

<6> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<7> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

Aug 16 2023 3:11PM