12 hours of yomping around (pic heavy)

[sennelager66]

I planned to get out to clear up areas around Brookmans Park/Potters Bar and stretch out towards the surrounds of Radlett /Watford and had quite a successful day with a mass of variety and interesting experiences. I'd previously been over to Brookmans Park and had hit the areas of The Transmitting Station, Swanley Bar and the outskirts of Cuffley. This time i was determined to get onto Potters Bar Golf Course to get the two PB's previously missed along with the AT blocks along the train track and embankment. Coming in from the Brookmans Park side of the course i discovered there was a public right of way on the Golf Course so that was easy. Getting the second PB - i wasn't sure where the right of way finished but got the shots of the PB before being told to clear off. I parked the car up after getting some of the Brookmans Park area covered and decided to walk from Radlett Road across the bridleways all the way down to the M1 and back up again. Exhausting but a great time was had. I even had time to snooze in a farmers field with the sun out!!

Anyhow i started off at Brookmans Park Rail Station mainly due to ease of parking the car up and then taking the stroll down to Potters Bar Golf Course. Anyhow less of the waffle and onto the pics:

ANTI TANK CONE: S0005029
Sat on the T junction of Station Lane and Bradmore Lane there are 10 AT Cones but due to the heavy growth of Brambles and Nettles i could only locate 8 of them. Some have been upended. Heading down Bradmore Lane there were 6 on the left and two on the right hand side.

Turning left back towards the train station there was evidence of an access road which would have run along side the Cones.

Cutting alongside the rail line was a direct path leading towards the Golf Course. Getting to Hawkshead Bridge i am surprised there was not evidence of a secondary line of defences. Nothing but me frightening the occasional rabbit. As i said the path carries right down to the Golf Course - under the arch and straight through the kissing gate. It wasn't until i saw the public right of way signs that i could relax as there were plenty of groundsmen at work and at 07.30AM - people out playing a round of golf.

ANTI TANK BLOCK: S0005036

Listed as being 25 AT blocks i could only see four from the Golf Course and two from the other side of the track once i'd left. The embankment is close to the Golf Course and steep so it was only possible to see those on the sky line and the two sat over the top of the culvert.

Apologies for the railings.

Marked up at a possible type 24. I got the internal shots to this one after brazenly walking over the bridge and back to the PB. A high Viz and clip board look so official!.

S0005035
Sat in a more exposed position almost central within the Golf Course it was a case of grit my teeth and follow the line of the river intersecting the course. This almost PB is completely sealed but i managed to get photos through two of the embrasures. At any point i was expecting the John Lydon refrain of 'Oy - Get Orf my land'. Best to grab the photos as soon as.

Moving up to the North East corner of Brookmans Park i was hoping to find the Spiggot Mortar mount but could not find that needle in the haystack. This was marked up as being on the corner of Great North Road and Woodmans Lane but in the field, in the hedgerow and dowwn the lane - i just couldn't find a buried mount anywhere. Continuing down Woodmans lane i did find 6 AT cones which do not seem to be marked up on the DOB layer. (One for the Captain).

Finally heading away from Brookmans i cut through past Deeves Hall onto Minns lane. Though i had marked it up to visit - it still took me by surprise (and the car behind).

S0005023

There is so much to see in this area it was impossible to get to it all within the time frame and this will take possible two or three more visits. I therefore will detail what i have got so far and sadly in some areas i missed out badly. There is always another day though.

River Lodge, Aldenham. S0005005
Thankfully there is a public right of way here but it feels like you are entering someones garden such is the proximity of the house. I feel i need to ask permission from the homeowners when i revisit. I need a good mooch around.

Vertical Rails

4 distinct rows of three.

Finally a pillbox (halelujah). A clean 24.

S0005004
As always a hop over the barbed wire and over to have a look.

ANTI TANK BLOCK: S0005002

A single line of 9 blocks.

ROADBLOCK: S0005000
Wall Hall pumping station, Aldenham.

The final site i visited before my willpower was sapped, i was tired, thirsty and it had started to rain. The trudge back to the car was daunting enough without that. I will get back out there soon to catch the rest of the goodies out there.

Thanks for your patience.

 

[jonney]

A sterling effort as usual mate some very nice concrete goodies you've captured there

 

[V70]

Some great finds here!

Surely you're allowed to walk up to the second pillbox even if it's not a right of way, otherwise the council wouldn't have attached a public information board?

I do forget how lucky we are up here in Scotland at times, as we're allowed to stomp around anywhere we like so long as we follow the Outdoor Access Code. If you ever holiday up here, there's a few WW2 stop lines and suchlikes worth following

The vertical rail spots are interesting. I presume that's literally a form of roadblock, in which they'd drop vertical beams into?

I've often considered buying one of these newer compact cameras with build-in GPS, so I could photo WW2 remnants then eventually map them all out and remember the locations. I'm quite bad for filling memory cards over weeks then completely forgetting where I've taken photos.

 

[sennelager66]

I always find that taking a note pad, maps (already marked up with what is located in the area), making comments about what i find and mapping on GE by tagging those i have visited helps me to jog my memory. Looking on my GE map now it is building up a really great plot of the stop lines.
I also get onto the local history sites as these sometimes can throw up some interesting historical accounts of people who either worked on the area during the war or have childhood recollections. We can only retrospectively surmise why certain areas are defended and others not but road have changed, the farmers boundary lines less so.

I always get those reports in straight away so i have databased the photos and cleared the memory card on the camera. I also load the photos up on facebook and it adds a real interest for those who are abroad. All my friends think i am a nutter the way i push myself though i cannot get this bug out of my system. To me there is nothing better than wandering around, seeing sights and getting into areas of the country you would never see otherwise.

 

[flyboys90]

Thats some serious concrete,great photos.

 

[flyboys90]

Have you been to Hinton in the Hedges airfield? there is a very unusual pb at the entrance used now! plus other goodies, I can only find one report and no pillboxes are covered.

 

[sennelager66]

Not yet but i might plan too soon. I already have my next two trips out plotted and researched so i shall add this to the list. I shall check it out and thanks for the recommendation.

 

[night crawler]

I always find that taking a note pad, maps (already marked up with what is located in the area), making comments about what i find and mapping on GE by tagging those i have visited helps me to jog my memory. Looking on my GE map now it is building up a really great plot of the stop lines.
I also get onto the local history sites as these sometimes can throw up some interesting historical accounts of people who either worked on the area during the war or have childhood recollections. We can only retrospectively surmise why certain areas are defended and others not but road have changed, the farmers boundary lines less so.

I always get those reports in straight away so i have databased the photos and cleared the memory card on the camera. I also load the photos up on facebook and it adds a real interest for those who are abroad. All my friends think i am a nutter the way i push myself though i cannot get this bug out of my system. To me there is nothing better than wandering around, seeing sights and getting into areas of the country you would never see otherwise.

You got the nutter bit right, I think all my friend think that of me even my wife. You put me to shame this week all I came across was one roadblock at Chilworth.

 

[sennelager66]

I finally got home after 18 hours. Suffering slightly this morning but happy. The blisters are healing up nicely. I was so tired i thought about plotting up in the car and getting back out there today but other commitments thought otherwise. Boooooo!

 

[flyboys90]

Not yet but i might plan too soon. I already have my next two trips out plotted and researched so i shall add this to the list. I shall check it out and thanks for the recommendation.

Let me know how you get on.

 

[tigger2]

Not yet but i might plan too soon. I already have my next two trips out plotted and researched so i shall add this to the list. I shall check it out and thanks for the recommendation.

For Hinton research check out Richard Drew's website entry: http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/northampton/hint_i_t_Heedges/html/page02.htm

 

[outkast]

Great effort mate, nice nice pics there, you are right, there is a fair bit in this area still to be discovered, unfortunately I am not as organised as yourself, I often find folders of pics on my computer and think, where the hell is that?

although I am interested in all things military my main interest is in bunkers and tunnels, people often think I am a bit weird when I tell them what I do, but are always interested when I tell them some of the places I have been, most people are blissfully unaware of the huge number of tunnels, bunkers, old air raid shelters ect right under their feet.

 

[sennelager66]

Let me know how you get on.

As you have a real interest in aviation history i have marked up all the De Havilland sites and this is on my to do list very shortly.

 

[oldscrote]

Yet another blinder of a post,is it my imagination or does that cone in the second picture look like a alligator

Thanks for sharing.....and yomping.

 

[Silent Hill]

Concrete Pill Boxes should receive Architectural merit

 

[flyboys90]

For Hinton research check out Richard Drew's website entry: http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/northampton/hint_i_t_Heedges/html/page02.htm

And thats the pill box in the photo.

 

[Skoyen89]

Hi Sennelager

Really like the Brookmans park stretch and your finds there. As you do I like researching stuff beforehand and that goes beyong Google Earth and DOB.

I've done the Aldenham stretch myself. The roadblock at River Lodge has a further three concrete blocks in a small triangular patch opposite the lodge house, I think some of the circular sockets are for mines rather than rail/RSJ girders. It would be interesting to measure them if you go back. My photos of the stretch are on Flickr under Skoyen89.

There are one or two on that stretch that are really hard to find so email me if you want descriptions. There were also some I couldn't find.

Cheers

 

[sennelager66]

Hi Sennelager

Really like the Brookmans park stretch and your finds there. As you do I like researching stuff beforehand and that goes beyong Google Earth and DOB.

I've done the Aldenham stretch myself. The roadblock at River Lodge has a further three concrete blocks in a small triangular patch opposite the lodge house, I think some of the circular sockets are for mines rather than rail/RSJ girders. It would be interesting to measure them if you go back. My photos of the stretch are on Flickr under Skoyen89.

There are one or two on that stretch that are really hard to find so email me if you want descriptions. There were also some I couldn't find.

Cheers

I will no doubt hold you to that. I was getting frustrated at not finding some of the PB's as the hedgerows were too thick and high to even attempt a nip through. The farm land was a strange experience. There is also an AT block at the start of that journey which i deep inside the private property up there. I think i maigh ask permission for this one. Again - thanks and i shall be in contact.

 

[RichCooper]

"All my friends think i am a nutter" ditto lol Yet another great report mate

 

[Jimthething]

Great photo-documentary, Rich!
It's funny how those pillboxes look so tatty and weathered on the outside and then you go inside and they look like they could've been put up yesterday!