Monument record 4136 - Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post at Tarporley

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Summary

This was a site occupied by the Royal Observer Corps. The Corps originally monitored aircraft during World War 2, however at the end of the war they were disbanded. In 1947 they were reformed and initially monitored aircraft, with raised 'Orlit posts' being the most characteristic structure. Structures of this period are normally little more than re-enforced huts and could be semi-sunken, at ground level or raised. However as aircraft got faster and Radar got more advanced this side of their job was phased out. Instead they were assigned to detect nuclear fallout in the event of a nuclear war, to warn the population of the fallout and to monitor the fallout. It was for this purpose that the later underground monitoring posts were constructed. On the surface there would be an entrance hatch, ventilator and fixings for survey probes. Underground there were usually two chambers, one with a chemical toilet and another with the monitoring equipment and bunks. Many of these sites survive as small fenced off enclosures in semi rural areas.

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Destroyed (1) On the east side of a field boundary, 250 yards North of Road Street (A51) and 120 yards West of public footpath running North from Road Street past a modern industrial unit. The only evidence of the post is two disused telegraph poles in the woods alongside the footpath and an unusual metal telegraph pole at a right angle bend in the footpath (SJ541962385) 120 yards East of the post (2). Probably built in 1937, it was post 2 in cluster F of group 7. It was made 'Permanent' in December 1952 and it changed to post 3 in cluster J of group 19. In June 1965 the post was moved to underground, and in February 1967 it changed to post 3 in cluster R of group 16. In October 1968 it was changed to post 3 in cluster D of group 17 (3).

<1> CBA, 2002, Defence of Britain Project, 2312 (Digital Archive). SCH4380.

<2> Subterrania Britannica, 2002, The Royal Observer Corps - Observer Corps Post Database (Digital Archive). SCH4457.

<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.

Sources/Archives (4)

<1> SCH4380 Digital Archive: CBA. 2002. Defence of Britain Project. 2312.
<2> SCH4457 Digital Archive: Subterrania Britannica. 2002. The Royal Observer Corps - Observer Corps Post Database.
<3> SCH4456 Report: C S Dobinson. 2000. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Volume XI 2 - The Cold War.
<4> SCH4466 Book: W D Cocroft and R J C Thomas. 2003. Cold War - Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946 - 1989.

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Location

Grid reference	SJ 539 638 (point) 8 Figure Ref
Map sheet	SJ56SW
Civil Parish	UTKINTON, VALE ROYAL, CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER
Historic Township/Parish/County	UTKINTON, TARPORLEY, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Record last edited

Feb 2 2024 3:14PM