Tag archives: abandoned

Kettering ROC Post 21 (Bedford 20 Cluster)

Opened – Unknown
Closed – September 1991

Visited this some time ago and kept a lid on it out of respect. It seems its now been outed elsewhere online so there’s no harm in posting these pix up now. This ROC Post had been deteriorating gradually over recent years and a couple of Cold War enthusiasts have fully restored the post to its former glory. If you are curious about the ‘stairs’ I have it on good authority that the original Chief Observer suffered from Polio so had these fitted decades ago to help getting in and out of the post. Getting all the items together has taken these guys ages and respect is due for the time, effort and cost required to do this restore.

I would like to add (and I know this to be true as I know the guys who restored this post) that NOTHING is left in this post in between ‘open days’ and the post is locked and alarmed.

Brixworth ROC Post – Northamptonshire Group

Opened – February 1962
Closed – September 1991

Brixworth forms part of the Bedford 30 Cluster and is the Master Post, with Crick 31 and Duston 32 and came under ROC Group HQ No 7 Bedford

This was only a quick visit so no underground shots on this occasion (we will be back for these another day). In the compound are what looks like the concrete steps for a Visual Reporting Post (Aircraft Observation), there are also some of the poles from this laying on the ground.

Cantilever ‘Mushroom’ Pillboxes

Straying from the Cold War theme slightly here is my attraction to old airfields, I’m not big on WW2 stuff but these places provide a certain draw to me and I’m lucky to have many old RAF/USAF sites very near to my house. A full report on one of these sites will follow in the near future but for now here’s a small article on Cantilever Pillboxes.

Cantilever Pillboxes, more commonly known as Mushroom Pillboxes are found only on airfields and mainly in the East of England, they are of a circular design, partially sunken into the ground and have a 360 degree embrasure (opening) to allow weapon fire to be layed down in any direction. Just inside the embrasure and attached to the brickwork is a circular gun rail so a machine gun could be moved almost anywhere in the pillbox to lay down fire.

The construction of these two are of a circular brick built base with a central cruciform wall which in turn supports a poured concrete dome. The example in the photo’s below is from RAF Grafton Underwood and was in a defensive position at the north end of the No.1 Runway.  A second Mushroom Pillbox is also present on this site but the roof has sadly collapsed.

The airfield was opened in 1941 and was first used by the RAF  Bomber Command 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit with Liberators. The original runways were approximately 1,600 yards and 1,100 yards in length. The runways were not suitable for the operation of heavy, four-engined bombers so the airfield was upgraded to Class A, including the lengthening of the runways to the required 2,000 yards for the main and 1,400 yards for each of the others, started in late 1942.

As a result of this Grafton Underwood was assigned United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force in 1942. Its designation was USAAF Station 106. The airfield became a major base for the USAF and many squadrons were based there during WW2 – 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 96th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy).

 

Duston ROC Post – Northamptonshire Group

Opened – February 1962
Closed – September 1991

Duston forms part of the Bedford 30 Cluster – Brixworth 30 (Master Post), Crick 31 and Duston 32 and came under ROC Group HQ No 7 Bedford

With the fast rate things were being removed from here and more importantly the imminent demolition of this entire site to make way for a major urban development plan (the ROC Post is the little grey square in sector O) we decided now was the time to visit before the post is gone forever.

Expecting a stripped post we were pleasantly surprised by what we found. If anyone is interested there is also the lower half an Orlit Post in the same compound.

Riseley ROC Post – Bedfordshire Group

Site: Riseley ROC Post & Aircraft Observation Post

Opened – March 1964
Closed – September 1991

This visit was more of a recon than a full visit and as such was done on my way home from work with none of my gear and wearing only a t-shirt. As you can see from the pix this entire site has been consumed by nature, something I kind of like to see which is why I photographed it as is, instead of coming back tooled up. The t-shirt was an epic fail as the stingers here are 8ft high and the brambles twice that, in fact this compound is so densely overgrown you could walk round it without even knowing there was anything in there….I never did see the air vent, I would have been stung to death trying to find it. Water levels are the lowest here for a very long while with approx 10ft of the shaft visible (it’s been up near the top before). I also had to extract fast as I heard voices coming towards me from the other side of the hedge so apologies for the crap pix….no tripod, falling down rat holes and legging it didn’t make good photos.

Earls Barton ROC Post – Northamptonshire Group

Opened – Unknown (gotta cross reference it in Attack Warning Red)
Closed – September 1991

It’s been a ROC Post Fest this last few days across several counties, I’ve hit up 8 posts in 6 days and the 9th planned for tonight but this one wins the FUBAR award so far, not only has it been stripped bare inside, its now Fly Tipping Central with the shaft totally full of refuse/junk/detritus

I was on my own and also short on time so I didn’t attempt to start removing the trash, plus I wasn’t sure of the contents of the black bin bags

The compound itself is chest high in stinging nettles so I’m not sure what original items might be laying around, I suspect none though.

Uppingham ROC Post – Rutland Group

Opened – May 1960
Closed – October 1968

This is a bleak, damp, stinking, lonely ROC Post in a compound that’s slowly claiming it back, it’s been closed for 42 years so that shouldn’t be such a surprise. The only remaining items are a single bed and the mounting plate for the BPI.

Benefield ROC Post 22 (Bedford 20 Cluster)

Opened – June 1958
Closed – September 1991

RAF Deenethorpe was constructed in 1943 and was allocated to the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force. It was assigned USAAF designation Station 128. The 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy) were stationed here. They operated chiefly against strategic targets, bombing industries, submarine facilities, shipyards, missile sites, marshalling yards, and airfields; beginning in October 1944, concentrated on oil reserves. The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for striking telling blows against German aircraft production on 11 January and 20 February 1944.

After the war, Deenethorpe was used as a RAF Recruiting Center, and later for several years the control tower was used as a lookout post by the local Royal Observer Corps. It was finally sold in 1963 and largely returned to agriculture. Part of the old main runway is now used as a private airstrip.

Its possible this site won’t be around much longer as the Deenthorpe Control Tower has been demolished and the whole site is being taken back by nature. Inside the post was very untidy but many original items remain, however lots of items have sadly been removed.

Yet another sad example of a ROC Post being stripped bare

Bunker Fest Week

The last 7 days have been a bit of a Bunker Fest and it’s time for a little rest. Last Thursday my explorer buddy and I visited six ROC Posts and a Battle HQ and then this week I have hit up something every single night on the way home (actually there was 2 ROC Posts on Wednesday night..).

Last night I promised myself I would go straight home but I ended up making a short diversion and hitting up a really neat Battle HQ and a cracking Cantilevered ‘Mushroom’ Pillbox instead and found a whole pile more stuff to check out. It’s not Cold War so not really my MO but the place has an interesting vibe about it….watch this space.

Total for this weeks explores:

10 ROC Posts
2 Battle HQ’s
1 Mushroom Pillbox

Another neat thing this week has been a new kit bag, normally I use a rucksack but these are a pain in the ass in confined spaces like tunnels and access shafts and I’ve been wanting something different. I found what I was looking for in the shape of a Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger. The theory with the Gearslinger series is a single shoulder backpack that can be rotated to the front of the body without removing it as well as providing access to all the compartments, perfect for the challenges of exploring.

Its been tried out in various bunkers and underground locations and I love it 🙂

Clipston ROC Post 12 – (Bedford 10 Cluster)

Explored with Winch It InOpened – November 1959
Closed – September 1991

This is the last of the Bedford 10 Cluster we explored with Sutton Bassett 11 and Cold Overton 10 (Master)

It’s seriously been burned out for several years now and there are definate signs of drug use (home made bongs etc) and serious partying in this post. Amongst the carnage underground the cupboard still exists but the doors have been torn off, the desk is still fixed to the wall and miscellaneous items such as grease are scattered about, there were also a couple of battery boxes in one corner.

Nearly all of the polystyrene tiles have melted in the heat but it does look like perhaps the fire burnt itself out due to lack of oxygen?

The surrounding area is also quite trashed with broken glass bottles widespread on the surface, the new green gate that was fitted on the nearby aircraft observation post has been torn off and it looks like someone sleeps in there now.

It’s sad to see a site like this that’s supposedly maintained by English Heritage as part of their Battle of Naseby project in Naseby, Sulby, Sibbertoft and Clipston so heavily trashed.