Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf9b
Hob Uid: 1469161
Location : Cheshire East Tatton
Grid Ref : SJ7650082300
Summary : A Second World War bombing decoy site at Tatton Park. It was commissioned in December 1940 as a 'Permanent Starfish' site to deflect enemy bombing from the city of Manchester. The 'Starfish' decoy operated by lighting a series of controlled fires during an air raid to replicate an urban area targeted by bombs. The site is referenced as being operational until 1943, but could have been in use until August 1944. Aerial photography from 1963 shows the site had become fields and parkland and that no features of the decoy survive. Tatton Park was one of nine 'Starfish' sites for Manchester.
More information : A Second World War 'Permanent Starfish' bombing decoy located at Tatton Park (SJ 765 823). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from Manchester. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 and 08-APR-1943. Further 'Starfish' sites for Manchester were located at Chat Moss (SJ 695 957), Park Moor (SJ 969 805), Chunal Moor (exact location not traced), Mossley (SD 996 017), Carrington Moss (SJ 753 919), Ludworth Moor (SK002 908), Reddish (SJ 912 939) and Elkstone (SK 045 610). (1) Aerial photography from 1963 shows the site had become fields and parkland and that no features of the decoy survive. (2) NGR concords with that given in source 1. The 'Starfish' sites for Manchester were commissioned in December 1940 and active by January 1941. In February 1943 two of Manchester's 'Starfish' sites were decommissioned, and by August 1944 all of the urban layout decoys were closed. (3)

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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Second World War
Display Date : Built in 1940
Monument End Date : 1944
Monument Start Date : 1940
Monument Type : Bombing Decoy, Starfish Site
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Cheshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 4224
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SJ 78 SE 28
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 2008-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Starfish Bombing Decoy Sf9b