Possible Aux OB & PB – Wells – Jan 2011

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Munchh

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The arsehole of the Cosmos
Found myself in Wells on other business and, as is my wont, checked the Capn’s database before setting out in case there was something worth looking in on.

Park Wood was near to where I was going so I made a few mental notes and grabbed my camera.

There were only two points of interest in this small wood to the north of a former railway line, unless you count the peace and general calm of the place only disturbed by the occasional dog walker and the sheep in adjacent fields.

GE map shot;

ParkWood.jpg


First of all, the possible site of an Auxiliary Unit Operational Base. There are probably members on here with more experience of this type of site than me so I’ll present my pics of what I found and invite you to decide if it’s possible or not. Some info from the DOB database;

DOB site reference: S0003063 Grid reference ST 554 449
Badger workings reveal brick, corrugated iron, steel sheet, stone, and wire mesh. Possible Auxiliary Unit operational base.


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Not really sure what this low, weathered concrete wall was doing here but it's directly behind and on top of the OB site.

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Further north was the Pillbox. Again, info from the DOB database;

DOB site reference: S0003064, Grid reference: ST 557 450
Type 24 pillbox, with brick shuttering falling away. Embrasures had number painted in white overhead.

Defence grouping : GHQ Line: Green - Stop Line - Burnham on Sea to near Melksham (where it joins with the GHQ Line: Blue) and then north to the River Severn at Newnham. This line is also known as the Bristol Outer Line. Manned by VIII Corps.
Wells defended locality - Defences of Wells defended locality. Cassini ref. T9866. [Source: Western Area Defence Scheme, 1941 - PRO WO 166/1251].

All manner of crap lying around inside including two Harry Potter books. Obviously a bit of a local kids hang out.

Definitely a type 24 with protected entrance.


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It was a nice little distraction from the humdrum of life for an hour. Thanks for looking in.
 
The 'tunnel' seems to be in the right area. It could do with a rummage in the leaves! Theres another not far away. This is what I got and the source
Archaeology Data Service

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/

Defence of Britain database
Council for British Archaeology, 2006

AUXILIARY UNIT OPERATIONAL BASE (ID: S0003063), Wells, Somerset, England
Park Wood, near bridge over railway cutting., Condition: Very Bad (Grid ref: ST 554 449)

AUXILIARY UNIT OPERATIONAL BASE (ID: S0000444), Wells, Somerset, England
Dulcote Hill, near Wells, Condition: Good (Grid ref: ST 5685 4415)
 
The 'tunnel' seems to be in the right area. It could do with a rummage in the leaves! Theres another not far away. This is what I got and the source
Archaeology Data Service

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/

Defence of Britain database
Council for British Archaeology, 2006

AUXILIARY UNIT OPERATIONAL BASE (ID: S0003063), Wells, Somerset, England
Park Wood, near bridge over railway cutting., Condition: Very Bad (Grid ref: ST 554 449)

AUXILIARY UNIT OPERATIONAL BASE (ID: S0000444), Wells, Somerset, England
Dulcote Hill, near Wells, Condition: Good (Grid ref: ST 5685 4415)

Same info I used, I considered the Dulcote one but I wasn't geared up for a quarry. It also says that the original recorder couldn't find it despite verbal confirmation from a survivor. Future jaunt maybe. The Park Wood one certainly looks right for an OB based on my limited knowledge of them. :)
 
Good find. It certainly looks like some sort of escape tunnel. Working on a couple of Aux sites in Cornwall at the minute & hoping to uncover some stuff soon.
 
Theres a load near me and they all have escape tunnels like this so it does look like one. They wernt really anything flash, more like a burried anderson shelter. Would have hated to work down one of them....
 
Great find Munchh. As Badoosh says it looks like the escape tunnel. It's unusual to see above ground concrete near one of these sites so I suspect it's unrelated unless the ground level has lowered and exposed part of the vertical entrance shaft, These are normally brick lined though.
 
I went down to Glastonbury yesterday and while driveing along the A39 noticed a pillbox just off it overlooking what seemed to be a bridge and may well be a disused railway line. Need to get a photo next time I'm down there. :) Wondered what was up the Wells area. :)
 
..................Wondered what was up the Wells area. :)

Big ole stopline NC :)

What's with the copies of Harry Potter being in there :confused:

I think local kids have tried to turn the PB into a bit of a den as there were bits of carpet and other home comforts lying around. Personally, I have no problem with this. They don't appear to be doing any damage. The books, which I of course left where they were, are probably late night campfire reading material. :mrgreen:
 

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