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| HER Number: | MSH161 |
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| Type of Record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Catchcold Tower - Site of World War Two Gun Mounting |
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| Grid Reference: | SU 4186 1159 |
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| Map: | Show location on Streetmap |
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Summary
In 1940, during WWII, a Hotchkiss machine gun was mounted on the top of Catchcold Tower and used for anti-aircraft defence. It was operated by the Royal Navy (HMS Safeguard). The machine gun has been removed but the concrete base slab remains. It was recorded during archaeological work at the tower in 1989/1990 (SOU 409).
Protected Status: None recorded
Other References/Statuses
- Defence of Britain Non-Anti-Invasion Record: ID 2813
- HER backup file (new series): MSH161
- Old Southampton SMR No/Backup file: SU 4111 NE 58
Monument Type(s):
Full description
Defence of Britain Project, 1997:
[2][3]: (Citing [7], caption of photo [4]). In 1940, during WWII, a Hotchkiss machine gun was mounted on the top of Catchcold Tower and used for anti-aircraft defence. It was operated by the Royal Navy (HMS Safeguard). The machine gun has been removed from tower, but the concrete base slab remains.
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SOU 409 (Excavations at Catchcold Tower in 1989/1990):
During excavations on the roof of the tower, the concrete gun mounting was recorded (see drawings [1]).
After the SOU 409 excavations, the gun mounting was left in-situ and the roof reinstated to the modern level [5].
[See [8] for further details of the SOU 409 work.]
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SMR site visit in 1998 (ESH1640):
[6]: The gun mounting, as it survives, consists of concrete, with a level, flat top, and a central iron ring with three fixings (see annotated copy of [1] in SMR backup file).
Sources / Further Reading
| --- | SSH3124 - Unpublished document: Ancient Monument File AM7 - Catchcold Tower. |
| [1] | SSH2359 - Excavation archive: SOU 409 site archive.. Plans and elevation showing gun mounting. |
| [2] | SSH2334 - Unpublished document: Wylie, AE. 1997. Defence of Britain Project - site report form for an anti-aircraft gun emplacement on Catchcold Tower, Southampton.. all |
| [3] | SSH2280 - Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2003. The Defence of Britain Project - Non-Anti-Invasion Defences Database. ID 2813 |
| [4] | SSH2360 - Photograph: ?. 1945. Hotchkiss Machine-gun on Catchcold Tower, 23/2/45.. |
| [5] | SSH2362 - Verbal communication: K White. 1998. Pers comm from Kevin White to I Peckham (SMR) concerning the WWII gun mounting on Catchcold Tower, Southampton.. |
| [6] | SSH2361 - Unpublished document: I Peckham. 1998. Southampton SMR Card SU 4111 NE 58. |
| [7] | SSH2363 - Written communication: ?1992. Inscription on a plaque at Catchcold Tower, Castle Way.. |
| [8] | SSH3155 - Archaeological Report: M Smith. 1993. Excavations at Arundel and Catchcold Towers, Southampton.. SOU 272, SOU 409. |
Associated Finds: None recorded
Associated Events
- ESH1627 - Defence of Britain Project research into a former WWII gun emplacement at Catchcold Tower in 1997
- ESH1640 - Visit to Catchcold Tower to inspect remains of WWII gun emplacement
- ESH409 - Excavations at and near Catchcold Tower in 1989 and 1990 (Ref: SOU 409)
Related records
| MSH52 | Child of: Town Defences - Catchcold Tower |
Associated Links: None recorded
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