Grade II Listed :40mm Bofors AA Gun tower

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by CL1, May 7, 2012.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  2. Not sure, we have photos and video as the grounds staff were clearing the grass at the back of the building. Its quite wet so we are waiting for it to dry before having a nose about. Photos show a concrete sides with pipes. Not seen much but you folks seem to be the people who may know more.

    Torben
     
  3. They say about 20yrd from the building is where the hole is
     
  4. Not we’re the tunnel starts
     
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    I would suggest contact English Heritage just in case it is part of the original structure plus you never know there could be WW2 ordnance in situ.
     
  6. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    Apologies if its been mentioned before, but there are two well preserved Bofors Towers at the top of the Test Hill at Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit in Surrey. Both Vickers & Hawker produced aircraft at Brooklands in the war, as well as there being an airfield there.

    Brooklands Bofors Tower[s]
     
  7. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Site of tunnel plus a few updated photos[

    upload_2020-3-17_18-51-11.png upload_2020-3-17_18-51-29.png upload_2020-3-17_18-51-54.png upload_2020-3-17_18-52-53.png upload_2020-3-17_18-53-8.png upload_2020-3-17_18-55-15.png upload_2020-3-17_18-57-32.png upload_2020-3-17_18-57-59.png upload_2020-3-17_18-58-54.png upload_2020-3-17_18-59-30.png upload_2020-3-17_19-2-48.png upload_2020-3-17_19-3-10.png upload_2020-3-17_19-3-38.png upload_2020-3-17_19-3-54.png
    upload_2020-3-17_19-4-55.png
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 17, 2020
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  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Last edited: Dec 17, 2020
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  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    I have been in contact with the local council and they have been very good at responding and looking into the condition of the building.
    A new site visit is due shortly and hopefully this will ensure the structure is placed on the at risk register.
    They will also review the tunnel structure.


    The chap at the council very kindly sent me a few photos of the top of the Bofors Tower
    The anti tank blocks have been removed.
    upload_2021-5-10_15-32-13.png
    upload_2021-5-10_15-32-33.png



    upload_2021-5-10_15-31-52.png
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2021
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  10. ARPCDHG

    ARPCDHG Member

    Well done CL1.

    I was under the impression that listed status meant that owner had to look after the structure, rather than just let it fall down, rather like a Tree Protection Order?
     
  11. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

    There were three such towers along that stretch of the Lea Navigation, the other two have long since been demolished. AFAIK they differ to all the other towers in being constructed entirely of reinforced concrete rather than the concrete/steel skeleton and brick infill seen elsewhere. Also, all the chambers have loopholes, presumably for self defence.
    This https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=7c98...8-4649-8545-3183c3ac41c0&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027 shows the tower though it now has a steel fence around it.
     
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  12. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

    From a conversation with an HE Inspector regarding the appalling state of North Weald Redoubt there is no obligation on an owner to look after the structure but if you even think about repair or restoration HE send in the storm troops an stipulate in minute detail what you can and can't do. It's a truly ridiculous situation exploited by developers for years!
     
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  13. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  14. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

    The Lea Navigation Tower a few years back.

    DSC00897.jpg
    DSC00907.jpg
    DSC00888.jpg
     
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  15. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

  16. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

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  17. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

    I'm certain that this https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=45c5...1-4901-95fd-4fb97a698bb9&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027 is the tower shown in your photos. There were three such towers along this stretch of the Lea Navigation beside the RGPF of which this is the only survivor. AFAIK these three towers were unique in being wholly constructed in concrete and having the walls loopholed for self defence. The surrounding area was quite flat and obstructions were placed on it to stop gliders landing. As well as getting supplies the boat shown may also have allowed of duty soldiers access to the Jolly Bargeman public house that used to stand on the opposite bank.
     
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  18. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

    There is a photo of what I suspect is this tower in The Bofors Gun by Terry Gander. Lower left partially covered is what appears to be the carriage of a mobile Bofors perhaps indicating that a mobile gun was towed to the site, the gun unbolted and placed on the tower.

    Bofors-Tower-Gander.jpg
    and another photo that may be on one of these towers, there appears to be chimneys in the background that could be the RGPF:

    Bofors-on-Tower.jpg
     
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  19. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

    Deleted
     
  20. Alec1935

    Alec1935 Active Member

    There is a video of the Lea Navigation tower on YouTube:



    and a drone's eye view of the Brooklands tower.

     

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