Building record 7947 - Buffer Depot at Waverton

<1> CBA, 2002, Defence of Britain Project, 2303 (non-anti-invasion) (Digital Archive). SCH4380.

Food depot.

<2> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1990's, RCHME Cold War Project, Cocroft W, 20/06/1997 (RCHME Research Project). SCH8045.

The former Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries Buffer Depot or food store at Waverton lay within Home Defence Region 10 and was allocated depot number 344B. The depot is situated 5km southeast of Chester adjacent to the Chester to Crewe railway line. Although not directly served by the railway, it lay adjacent to the former approach to Waverton station and goods yard. Road access was by a lane between Waverton and Aldford, less than 300m from the main road between Chester and Whitchurch. It is unclear from a 1947 air photograph whether or not the depot was served by its own railway siding. A strip of disturbed ground along its southern perimeter may possibly indicate a dismantled track bed.

The depot occupied a roughly rectangular site approximately 120m x 50m delimited by a low post and wire fence with concrete posts. The depot building is a three aisled structure, each aisle covered by a pitched roof, recently reclad in pressed steel sheeting. The eastern elevation is pierced by windows, indicating office accommodation, access to the store was through one of five sliding doors ranged down along the southern elevation. No internal inspection of the building was carried out.

The depot building is occupied by Waverton Business Park. See also (3) & (4).

<3> Campbell D, 1983, War Plan UK, p.290 (Book). SCH8256.

<4> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, CPE/UK/1935 no.2202, 17/01/1947 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

<5> GeoInformation Group, 1940, Luftwaffe Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SCH5167.

The building is not extant on this photograph. Therefore, it was constructed after September 1940.