Monument record 8675/1/1 - WWII road block

6 x concrete cylinders originally used for World War II road blocks now being used as gate guards with at least 6 more in use around the yard. Ex-situ. Original location unknown.

{1}There are 6 WW2 concrete cylinders originally used at road blocks now being used as gate guards with at least 6 more in use around the yard. There are a further 4 being used as guards in a neighbouring gate just to the west.Photos are attached.

{2} 3ft tall concrete cylinders with axial hole. 6 blocks are being used to line the entrance to a yard. At least 12 further cylinders are visible inside the fence. A further 4 blocks block an entrance 100m to the west. Steel reinforcement is visible where the edges have been chipped. Original location unknown. Condition: good. Photos.

{3} Illustration of this type of cylinder

{5/6} This area was assessed as part of the Bedford Borough NMP aerial survey project. No features as described above were visible on any of the available historic aerial photographs and so the cylinder blocks may have been moved from another (unknown) location. Google Streetview imagery dated November 2009 shows nine blue-painted concrete cylinders to be lining a car park as protection from vehicles for the road-facing metal security railing fence, with a further six in Ambrose Gear Hire's depot yard. Any roadblocks in the village were likely to have been manned by members of ‘G’ Company (Wollaston) of the 8th (Wellingborough District) Battalion of the Northamptonshire Home Guard.

<1> HOLLOWELL S., 1998, Defence of Britain Recording Form- Road Block Concrete Cylinders, Cox's Plant Hire, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN51407.

<2> Armishaw A., 2000, Defence of Britain Project Site Report Form, (checked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN108881.

<3> Lowry, B., 1995, 20th Century Defences in Britain: An Introductory Guide, p.85 (unchecked) (Book). SNN76983.

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

<5> 2018-2019, RCHME/EH/HE Aerial Photographers comment, Bedford Borough NMP project, S Crowther, API, Bedford Borough NMP project (Note). SNN111578.

<6> Info Terra Ltd; Blue Sky; Tele Atlas; Getmapping, 2009, Google Earth Imagery, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM (StreetView) November-2009 ACCESSED 29-MAR-2019 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN106618.

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

Record last edited

Apr 26 2024 1:15PM