Monument record 8149 - Yardley Chase Military Site

The military site was created during World War II between 1942-3 for military munitions storage. The site comprised a series of dispersed, large concrete and brick buildings or ‘storage bunkers/magazines’ surrounded by massive banks of earth and served by an extensive rail network linked by a spur to the now abandoned Northampton to Bedford line. In 1980 the area became a training ground, latterly passing from the management of the Royal Pioneer Corps based at Simpson Barracks in Northampton to become part of the East Midlands Training Area.

{1} Site is presumed to be a dispersed storage/ammunition store. Local information is that this MOD site is now used for TA training. Approximately 36 dispersed structures arranged in 2 main groups in woodland/scrub at Yardley Chase. Identified on maps all the features appear very similar in character. A network of tracks interconnects all the features. At c.SP83205560 are a collection of associated buildings some of which at least are still present. The site also appears at one time to have been linked to the nearby Northampton to Bedford railway (now redundant).

{2} Brief observation from the Denton to Hackleton road. Yardley Chase is still clearly in use as a military training ground. Associated buildings & main access to the Yardley Chase Training Ground are concentrated around SP83155575. Also present is at least one derelict building probably of WWII origin.

{3} Letter from Mr T.N. Parker, who recalls starting work at the site in the spring of 1942. The main contractor was Sir Robert MacAlpine & work continued until 1943, though Mr Parker believes some of the main storage sheds were in use before then. "They were used to store explosive materials and were surrounded by blast walls about 15' high and constructed by a railway system of around 15 miles of track. Most if not all of the thirty odd sheds were only really accessible by rail, the junction with the main line was at Piddington Station. Material was still being sent in and out from the site by train until it eventually closed about 1980. The domestic site and offices etc. were on the main Horton-Denton road; most are still there".

{4} The site was in use from WWII for military munitions storage for which purpose a series of large concrete and brick buildings or ‘storage bunkers/magazines’ were constructed dispersed across the area and served by an extensive rail network linked by a spur to the now abandoned Northampton to Bedford line. Most, but not all, of these buildings were enclosed by large earth banks, with external, crescent shaped quarry ditches. The former are now generally overgrown, whilst the quarries, where not silted up, are filled with water. Associated with the ‘storage bunkers’ are groups of three small ancillary brick buildings. All of the latter buildings seen, are derelict though some of the bunkers remain in local storage use. Munitions storage ceased round about 1980 with the area becoming a training ground. Approximately 5 years ago it passed from the management of the Royal Pioneer Corps based at Simpson Barracks in Northampton to become part of the East Midlands Training Area.

{5} Yardley Chase Training Area was recently acquired from 7 Royal Anglian. Forms part of the East Midlands Training Area. Up until approx 5-6 years ago the training area was run by the Royal Pioneers based at the now demolished Simpson Barracks, Northampton.

{6} The military site was created during World War II for military munitions storage. Evidence obtained from a former construction worker indicates that work started in the spring of 1942 and continued until early 1943, although some of the large storage sheds may have been in use before all works were completed. The main contractor was MacAlpine.
The associated domestic buildings (accommodation blocks) and offices were located adjacent to the Horton to Denton road and are the subject of the current survey. The 1945 aerial photograph of the area indicates that most of the buildings were present by this date.
In 1980 the area became a training ground, latterly passing from the management of the Royal Pioneer Corps based at Simpson Barracks in Northampton to become part of the East Midlands Training Area.

Most of the buildings on the site were enclosed by large earth banks, which in turn were surrounded by annular quarry ditches. The blast banks are c.13m wide x 5m high. Associated with these buildings were groups of three small ancillary brick buildings assumed to be contemporary with the storage bunkers. In each case they comprised a latrine, office and blast shelter. The dispersed concrete and brick buildings were connected by an extensive rail network which was linked by a spur to the Northampton to Bedford line (now defunct). Further details as to how this system worked are given.

<1> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, p.254 (checked) (Report). SNN104868.

<2> Cadman G.E., 1997, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51452.

<3> Parker T.N., 1997, Defence of Britain Project, (checked) (Letter). SNN40685.

<4> Cadman G.E., 1998, Yardley Chase MOD Property: Notes on Rapid Site Inspection, (checked) (Report). SNN49598.

<5> The Ministry of Defence, 1994 - 2006, Sanctuary: The Ministry of Defence Conservation Magazine, No. 25, p. 61 (Journal). SNN62549.

<6> Hewitt G.; Walker C., 2013, Archaeological Building Survey at Yardley Chase Cadet Training Centre, Denton Road, Northamptonshire March 2013, p.3-4 (checked) (Report). SNN108788.

<7> Hall D.N., 2001, Northamptonshire Woodland Survey Archive, (part checked) (Digital archive). SNN109590.

<8> Hall D.N., 1997, Northamptonshire Forests: Fineshade, Westhay, Southwick & Yardley Chase (Archaeological Interpretation Survey, Part 2), (unchecked) (Report). SNN62050.

<9> Hall D. N., 1997, Northamptonshire Forests: Fineshade, Westhay, Southwick & Yardley Chase (Archaeological Interpretation Survey, Part 2 Maps 1997), (unchecked) (Map). SNN62051.

<10> Defence Estates, 2009, Sanctuary: the Minstry of defence conservation magazine, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN106581.

Record last edited

Apr 9 2024 1:34PM