Monument record BAW 075 - Bawdsey anti-tank cubes

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Summary

World War II tank trap, Bawdsey.

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 35782 40055 (209m by 763m)
Map sheet TM34SE
Civil Parish BAWDSEY, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

A World War II tank trap, consisting of a line of anti-tank cubes can be seen on aerial photographs running from the centre of the strongpoint (BAW 074) east to the coast and then turning a corner and running south to the site of the gun emplacement (BAW 050). From there the line of cubes continues south from the battery and runs into a strongpoint at its southern end (BAW 087). The pictures are very unclear but it appears that the battery has not been constructed by July 1940 and that the southern end of the anti-tank line runs over the site where it is later built. (S1) By October 1945 the gun battery has been constructed at the middle point of the tank trap and the anti-tank cubes have been diverted. (S2) The anti-tank cubes are still visible in 1955 althought many have been displaced from their original position. (S3)
Approx. 420m long line of anti-tank cubes. Only 11 are now visible on the beach (S4).
East Lane, Bawdsey. Approx. 300m line of anti-tank cubes running N parallel with Bawdsey Beach from East Lane Battery. From its most northerly point, a 200m line returns NW to the pillbox (BAW 175). 187 cubes in total (S5).
The cubes have been removed from these fields by 1965.
See BAW 076 and BAW 100 for nearby beach scaffolding.

Sources/Archives (5)

  • <S1> Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. RAF 2/BR11/10 B14, B15, B17 22-JUL-1940.
  • <S2> Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. RAF 106G/UK/929 4424-26 16-OCT-1945.
  • <S3> Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. RAF 58/1672 (F21) 0186 03-MAR-1955.
  • <S4> Digital archive: Defence of Britain Project archive. UORN: S0006089.
  • <S5> Digital archive: Defence of Britain Project archive. UORN: S0006068.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Sep 28 2012 8:35AM

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