Waltham Abbey WW1 & WW2 Anti-Aircraft Defences
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- This short documentary looks at the remains of two anti-aircraft positions dating from as far back as the Great War. The first is a position located on a hilltop overlooking London, potentially used in the First World War. Due to the country's ill-preparation against the emergent threat of air raids, such permanent positions were incredibly rare, let alone in survival today. Not far away is a Bofors gun light AA platform; used in the Second World War but again a rare type of position owing that most LAA batteries were only temporary and consisted of earthworks.
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As kids we used to camp in all those shelters COUNTLESS times... brought back a lot if memories
Great documentary once again guys. Only just found you but I'm finding your work of great interest, documenting the obscure before all traces disappear altogether.
Cheers glad you found and like the videos! So many places have changed since we started it really does make you realise how much it’s disappearing
Hi there. I grew up in Cheshunt and used to spend a lot of time as a child in the 70s 80s playing in that river lea gun post. I remember it still having wooden shelves in the little rectangle corner cupboards surrounding the gun on top.also one of the metal hatch doors to pass the amo through was still there and working. If you look at the 8 bolts that held the swivel gun in place you will see one missing. Well sorry but that was me in 1979 when I was a boy I managed to knock it off with a stone and still have it to this day in my tool box of all places lol. I'm not sure if it's still possible to enter but on the ground floor facing the river there should be a small door opening that leads down and under the main building I think they have gated it off now but I remember a man used to sleep in there in the early 80s. I must say it has changed a lot but still good to see it's there for others to explore. Great video buddie.
Cheers for the message, great story especially about the bolt! Yes that doorway facing the river is still there, not gated off but just generally a bit of an ‘orrible little cubbyhole. Not really sure what it’s purpose was, I guess it was just a void in the design used for storage. Thanks :)
Thanks for another interesting video.
After living in Enfield I lived in Tudor way Waltham Abbeyfor a while but never knew about the Monkhams hall site. At the bottom of Tudor way there is a community centre which I was told was the regional HQ of the anti aircraft guns / Search lights?
I have a story about the Bofors gun emplacement that may be of interest.
In the early sixties when I was about twelve I and some friends went fishing along that stretch of the Lea and explored the structure, No graffiti then and not so overgrown. When I got home I told my elder brother about it. He was actually 21 years older than me and was about nine years old when the war started. He told me that he too had been fishing there in 1944 and cadged bangers and mash off the soldiers. One day they fired at a V1 “doodle bug” and the shell bursts were getting closer but then they stopped firing. He asked why they stopped and was told that if they had bought it down it could have landed on the nearby gunpowder factory. He has passed away so I cant find out any more. I am sure that there was an identical one on the east bank of the canal near the Royal Small Arms Factory it was at the bottom of Ordnance road where it meets the canal and then go north along the tow path a few hundred yards. I am sure that it has now gone.
Hi Richard thanks for your fascinating story, very interesting about the doodlebug and good to hear an insight into the position being used. I have not heard of another in existence so the other one may have gone, but it would make sense for there to have been several towers in the area.
Very informative...thankyou👍
Great video once again guy's, we love finding things like these, really good information too. Thanks for sharing with us 👍😊
Cheers guys!
very interesting to know!
What camera do you use? 🤔
This one was filmed on an Osmo Pocket, very nifty little camera with great quality shots. We also use the Panasonic GH4/5 for other documentaries and GoPros at times for vlogs
Beyond the Point brilliant! Thank you for replying and letting me know brother I appreciate that!👊🏽
riddley39 No problem all the best with your shots 👌
Hi again as you probably already know there are many pill boxes in and around the Cheshunt area but did you know about the two in Wormely near Broxbourn? One is just a standard 5 sided one with small square holes on each side which is situated next to the railway crossing at the end of Slipe lane Wormely the other is slightly more interesting. Coming from Cheshunt and Turnford drive past the college towards Wormely. Just past Slipe lane on the left you will see a small alley way marked with a green public foot path sign. Go to the end of alley that will lead to a small foot bridge over the New river. Once over the river you will be met by a pine forest that runs both ways next to the river go left along the tow path next to the river then after about 300y in the forest you will see anti tank blocks jump over the small fence and behind the blocks is a bunker with a small door way you can jump on top to get a better view of the site. The thing that makes this one a bit more interesting is that as you walk over the little foot bridge from the alley look right and you will see a bigger bridge that is no longer in use. When I was a child I was told by a older family friend that the army had to construct the bridge to gain access to the site they built the bunker at as the neatest bridge (church lane) was to far for the construction workers. It now stands as a bridge to nowhere but you can still access it and see how well it was constructed definitely worth a visit. You may be able to see it from Google earth I'm not sure. Also there is another one up Hammond street (Bread and cheese lane) that one you can see with Google earth. All the best👍
Is it possible to just walk up and visit this?
It is indeed! Best approached along the canal embankment running north from it