HAA Battery, Kenilworth. 09/10

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WinchItIn

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On the way back from visiting friends I went for a solo explore of this WWII defensive site.
Before leaving I had researched a little of it's history and discovered that it was constructed next to Bannerhill P.O.W camp back in 1940.

The site originally consisted of four 3.7" gun emplacements set in a roughly semi-circular arrangement with a part sunken command bunker located in the open segment of the circle as seen from above. I made my way on to the site via a bridleway and discovered immediately that the farmer had obviously been using the remains for a long while as both shelters for his animals and general storage. The concrete walls all remain in reasonable condition with roofs still intact and some metal fixings still showing. I headed over to the command bunker after a good explore of the emplacements and found that it was in much the same state as the outside remains but was all open and accessible.The bunker consisted of a total of 5 rooms of varying sizes with the largest being the main control room. The rooms were unfortunately stripped of all fixtures and fittings except for a couple of light switces.

After leaving the command bunker, whilst taking my last few photos, the farmer came over to me and asked what I was doing. I told him and he said 'oh so you know what it is then?'. He then gave me some further info on the area and said that the P.O.W camp once held German prisoners who were actually responsible for the building of the place. The battery was an integral part of the ground-to-air defence of Coventry covering the S.S.W. approaches to the city.
I am still researching this site so will add any further info as I discover it.

Command Bunker
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Gun Emplacement and Magazines
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Aerial Photo
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Thanks for looking
 
Thanks for posting this - looks an interesting site - also nice to have a bit of background history attached too.
 
The battery was an integral part of the ground-to-air defence of Coventry covering the S.S.W. approaches to the city.
Sadly didn't do Coventry much good. :(

Nice HAA that. Great that the farmer gave you some extra info...they're usually a good source, I've found. Unless it's at Dunkeswell airfield, mind! ;):mrgreen:
 

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