A
RARE FIND
The
demolition of RAF Burtonwood may have removed all of the familiar structures
normally associated with an airfield but there is still evidence of this once
great air base hidden underground.
RAF
Burtonwood still holds many secrets, which make it irresistible to explore.
Officially the land is not open to the public, but try explaining that to the
dozens of local residents who use the land to walk their dogs.
One
Sunday afternoon in April a small secret was discovered quite by chance. What
looked like a normal man hole or drain turned out to be a rare underground
fortification.
After
some research and hours scouring the World Wide Web (see acknowledgements) the
underground structure was identified as a Pickett-Hamilton Fort.
Research
carried out by Henry Wills indicates only about 30 - 40 of these were built
during the early part of the war, most of which were in East Anglia, namely
Bury St. Edmunds, Honington, Ipswich, Hornchurch, Martlesham, North Weald,
Stapleford, Stradishall, Wattisham, and others at Hawkinge, Silloth and
Sunderland. Now one has been found at Burtonwood.
Unlike
a normal "pillbox" which stands proud of the ground the
Pickett-Hamilton Fort fits flush with the ground making it ideal for airfield
locations. When required, the fort is raised using a hydraulic pump or
counterbalance system.
PICTURE
DAVID FARRANT
The
accommodation is fairly cramped for five men, but at least four were required
to raise the fort taking about 4 seconds. The fifth man was probably the
commander. The whole structure could then be lowered in about 10 seconds.
It
would be nice to preserve this piece of military history or recover it before
the land is redeveloped but a look at the "ingredients" for its
construction make it seem an impossible task.
70
cwt cement
6.5
yards of fine aggregate
12.5
yards of coarse aggregate
10
cwt steel reinforcement
23
cwt of steel
In
the meantime a photographic record is being compiled, the details of which will
be added later. Most of the airfields listed had 3 forts, perhaps there are
another 2 at Burtonwood waiting to be discovered. Who knows what other secrets
lay beneath the surface?
As of 2010 the fort has now been listed as an Ancient Monument. It is still in situ and it is hoped that it may be recovered for the Burtonwood Association.
The following pictures were taken on the day the water was pumped out so that an internal inspection could be carried out.
Entry hatch. Original hatch door missing
Acknowledgements
Nick
McCamley, author 'Secret Underground Cities'
David
Farrant, Airfield Research Group member
Reference
Henry
Wills, author 'Pillboxes'
Newsgroup
- uk.rec.subterranea