RAF North Weald Defenses

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snap_happy

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I decided to make a trip down to North Weald yesterday to photograph the defences and as you will see it turned into a cracker of a day despite the weather trying its best to rain on me. First off we have what is marked on the overlay as a Spiggot Mortar Emplacement but this doesnt look like one to me, number S000470:
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Next we move onto Pillbox S0002392 of an Air Ministry Pattern:
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Moving across the field we come to S0000464 another Air Ministry Pattern Pillbox:
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As you can see this has been used for dumping old tyres:
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Despite a good look Pillbox S0000465 which was also supposed to be in this field seems to have gone.

Moving along one field we come to two sets of Aircraft Disposal pens which seem to have been mixed in with earth piles to prevent entry:
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Moving further down the field we come to S0000468 a type 22 which is very will hidden and this is the only photo i could get, someone seems to have fitted plastic to the openings and there appear to be tea lights inside:
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Moving further south we come to S0002388 which seems to have been demolished now as there where several piles of concrete with reinforcing rod laying about this location:
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Back across the road and onto the next pillbox S0000469 a cantileverd pillbox:
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(It is under there but impossible to get a photo of)
 
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Im breaking this post down a bit as otherwise its going to be fairly long. Moving now into the next field we come to S0002391 of an unknown type, it looks a bit like a Type22 to me but with a strange entrance to it, maybe someone here knows more:
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Random cone:
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The Strange looking entrance:
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The rather thick roof, i wonder if something went ontop here, the edge of the concrete is also set back from the edge of the brick:
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Moving onto the Radio Tower area which i shall revisit another day when its dryer as the tunnels where flooded to about 3 inches. I can confirm we have two Allan Williams Turrets but not next to each other as the overlay would suggest, im going to send Cpt_Pies a correction but in the mean time if anyone is interested they are about 150 yards apart. First off S0001751:
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And the second one S0013607:
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Moving through North Weald village we come to S0002390 a type 22 in a small nature reserve:
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Moving out of the village now towards the M11 and on a golf driving range lays S0000459 a cantileverd Pillbox:
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And last but by no means least we move onto the airfield. First of all lets get the boring bits out of the way. One aircraft Dispersal pen, aparently it is being restored:
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Next aircraft dispersal pen is hidden by aircraft Hangars mostly:
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And this dispersal pen i was able to get into the structure inside:
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Not sure what this is but it looks origional:
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Moving around the airfield we come to S0000462 a type 22 set up infront of the airfield cafe:
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Just across from there lays a fighter pen but being on the active airfield i was unable to get acsess to it.

Next up is Hamilton Picket Fort S0007980 which it is possible to raise and lower:
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Then as i was leaving i met these boys, a massive thanks goes out to them:
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They took me out to the Hamilton Picket Fort in the grass by the runway without a number, i shall be sending through a correction for its position later:
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Which is flooded to within an inch of the top sadly, the firemen did confirm it is still possible to raise and lower it but they dont due to the position:
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And then to make my day they told me they have recantly found another Hamilton Picket Fort on the airfield and they would be willing to escort me to it, its not often you follow a bright red fire truck around an airfield. Please excuse the ropey photo, the area it was iin was flooded and there appeared to be a burst drain nearby as there was water bubbling up almost next to it. The firemen confirmed they are going to be restoring this one soon as a memorial to the Norwegion aircrew lost when flying from this airfield:
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Great report, yet another explore, almost on my doorstep, that I haven't seen. :( (though I had been round the North Weald radio station some years ago)
 
nice pics, good stuff, the northweald mobilisation centre needs a day alone to explore (as most of you already know). i do like the northweald fly in days, when you can have a good mooch and be left alone to explore :)
 
Great photos. Certainly enough for me to get out there. Just wave to me as we go in opposite direction. Love the report. I have learnt to take some secateurs with me so i can chop away at the brambles. Nothing can beat the determination. Waders next.
 
that bracket in the AWT is the same as the one at caernafon airport, it's absent in the Cley next the sea example - only conceivable use I could see was so the operator could squeeze into it and rotate the turret whilst operating the weapon in the mount - would have made sense as you could traverse with the MG whilst firing.

That picket Hamilton is a great find - good to see it will be being cared for too
 
nice pics, good stuff, the northweald mobilisation centre needs a day alone to explore (as most of you already know). i do like the northweald fly in days, when you can have a good mooch and be left alone to explore :)

I going back for the Fly in during June but as i will be arriving by air i didnt want to go walking around to many muddy fields as im sure my freind wont be to impressed if i then proceed to cover his plane in mud.
 
Great photos. Certainly enough for me to get out there. Just wave to me as we go in opposite direction. Love the report. I have learnt to take some secateurs with me so i can chop away at the brambles. Nothing can beat the determination. Waders next.

Go for it, be warned a couple of the pillboxes are well coverd as you can see. Also they are all fairly well overlooked which would be my concern with hacking away. I only missed one pillbox out which is the type 22 without a number behind the farm buildings on the west side as there is no acsess from the airfield and i could not find a way round to it.
 
Fabulous report snap. I do like them pickett hamilton pillboxes, wish I came with you now....
 

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