A late war site which mounted 3.7" guns in four emplacements in an arc design. The guns were radar controlled with the radar enclosure in a nearby field. This site was kept in readiness into the 1950's. There used to be a Guard Hut which is now demolished. A firework company has been using the site for a number of years.
Established in WW1 originally mounting light A.A. tripod wepaons. In 1939 it was developed to take four 3" A.A. guns in a square formation. The site was only in use until November 1940 because Bell Farm was more suited to night time AA role. Manned by the 89th regt 205 bty it was later used as a demonstration site for Z rockets and a twin Browning AA turret and a triple mobile Orelikon gun. Today only the 3" holdfasts exits in a field and a base for hutting.
This site is very extensive but very overgrown as well. Originally constructed in 1939 with four 3.7" emplacements with one magazine and the usual fire control & plotting rooms. The guns were upgraded to 4.5" then in 1945 three 5.25" HAA gun emplacements were added. In 1950 the site was designated as part of the post war ROTOR system and a new reinforced concrete Command Post was added (but this was not noted during my visit). The 5.25" guns could also be used for coastal defence. The whole site has been designated as a scheduled ancient monument by Thurrock Council.
Thought to be the first permanent A.A. site in the country, built in 1915 it mounted a 1pdr Q.F. and a converted Naval 3" HA gun. The site has a war shelter and two other brick built accomodation and stores/magazine buildings, both of which have steel shuttered windows which would have allowed local site defence if required. The site is in fair condition, the buildings are as cattle shelters.
This a large site with two local defence pillboxes within its boundary with four emplacements and a very large Fire Control Bunker in the centre. There is also a large number of foundation bases which formed a large camp at the site. The site is in a fairly poor condition.
Broom Bank was a late war anti aircraft site which was retained as part of the post war Igloo scheme for fighter interception in the Cold War period. The site is complete but is in poor condition and very overgrown. The generator building has been incoperated into a local radio station mast.
Designated as (D1) in 1940 also known as Farthingloe A.A. site. Consists of four emplacements with two magazines between each pair of emplacements. A central Command post and associated buildings. The site was manned by 58th regt 264 Battalion. Now the site is overgrown and has a lot of graffitti, but some original features still exist like original drawings in the magazines and ammunition tally boards.
Site was built in June 1942 and mounted 4x3.7" guns laid out in a line, controlled by a GL Mk2 fire control radar. Site manned by 285 bty 90th R.A. Today all the gun emplacements and buildings are destroyed with just ground traces, but the hutting and nissen huts remain although in poor condition.
Cold War anti aircraft site which formed part of the Igloo scheme for post war interception of enemy jet fighters. The site was constructed in May 1952 but was disbanded by Feb' 1955. The site consists of 4 emplacements in a curve configuration with a generator building and located at some distance the radar command post. The site is now very derelict and vandalised despite being one of the later built sites. The generator building was converted into animal stables internally and the Command Post has suffered major fire damage with all metal fittings removed. The site mounted the later 3.7" Mk VI No5 guns, which used ready supplied ammunition thus the site has no magazines.
