Monument record 4126 - Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post at Helsby

In a rectangular compound on top of Helsby Hill, in North West corner of a field. 30 yards East of trig. Station. All surface features remain intact with the green paint flaking. A metal dome on the ventillation shaft indicates this was a master post. There is a brick step up to the shaft. The top of the access shaft was reconstructed in 1989 and a new larger hatch (Torlift) fitted. The hatch is locked but can be opened with a torlift key or a large screwdriver. Internally the post is fire damaged but many items still remain including folding table, shelf, cupboard (doors missing), twin bunks with mattresses, copper straps along two walls, wiring, battery switching box, WB1401 speech receiver with switching unit and connection box, metal grille for fixing below hatch (1). Probably built in 1937, it was post 3 in cluster F of group 7. It was made 'Permanent' by December 1952 and it changed to post 2 in cluster J of group 19. In October 1962 the post was moved to underground, and finally in October 1968 it was changed to post 3 in cluster A of group 16 (3).

<1> Subterrania Britannica, 2002, The Royal Observer Corps - Observer Corps Post Database (Digital Archive). SCH4457.

<2> CBA, 2002, Defence of Britain Project, 2307 (Digital Archive). SCH4380.

<3> C S Dobinson, 2000, Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume XI 2 - The Cold War (Report). SCH4456.

<4> W D Cocroft and R J C Thomas, 2003, Cold War - Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946 - 1989 (Book). SCH4466.