Building record 4216 - World War 2-Cold War Depot at Mickle Trafford

Large building marked on mid twentieth century ordnance survey maps as a Depot, now Silverdale Park (1). The Defence of Britain survey categorises it as a World War 2 depot (3). It is positioned similarly to CSMR: 4139 which is a Buffer Depot according to the Defence of Britain survey and so there is a strong likelihood that this is a buffer depot as well (4). Erected in the early 1950s, these are general purpose stores which could be use to store equipment, food etc in case of nuclear/conventional attack. Similar in design to World War 2 examples. Two stores have a clerestory roof with windows in a raised section (5). The buildings are clearly visible on aerial photographs dating from the 1940s (6).

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1995-2017, Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 Scale Map (Maps and Plans). SCH2427.

<2> Network Archaeology, 2000, Birch Heath to Mickle Trafford, Proposed Gas Pipeline: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, R2356 (Client Report). SCH4262.

<3> CBA, 2002, Defence of Britain Project (Digital Archive). SCH4380.

<4> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Winfield H (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<5> W D Cocroft and R J C Thomas, 2003, Cold War - Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946 - 1989 (Book). SCH4466.

<6> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

<6> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.