Monument record 8674/1/1 - St Peter's Bridge Road Block/Defended Locality

One of the original World War II Northampton roadblocks defended by 12th Btn Northamptonshire Home Guard. 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.

{1} This was one of the original road blocks that were set up around Northampton in 1940. It was constructed by the South Midland Area Command on a site approved by the C.R.E District. In September 1941, Northampton was designated as a Nodal Point. At this time 14 out of the 17 road blocks were dismantled. The remaining three including St Peter's Bridge were retained and strengthened and redesignated as Defended Locality. There are some photos attatched.

{7} One of the original 17 Northampton roadblocks. 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 defended 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 to 1944.
St Peter's Bridge, Northampton.

<1> HOLLOWELL S., 1998, Defence of Britain Recording Forms: St Peter's Bridge road block, (unchecked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN51406.

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

<3> Barnes L.E., 1949, The Northamptonshire Home Guard, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN59554.

<4> 1940, Letter and Schedule From The County Surveyor, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN59555.

<5> Wright J.J., 1969, Photograph Album, 53+54+57 (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN55680.

<6> 1940, Central Midland Area to Southern Command H.Q., (unchecked) (Memorandum). SNN59557.

<7> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<8> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

Nov 27 2023 11:26AM