More information : A Second World War 'QF' and 'QL' bombing decoy located at Lydiate (SD 347 038). It was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys for Liverpool to protect Aintree marshalling yard. It is referenced as being in use between 02-OCT-1942 and 01-MAY-1943.
Further civil bombing decoy sites for Liverpool were located at Formby (SD 284 048), Little Crosby (SD 307 017), Knowsley (SJ 421 955), Halewood (SJ 461 866), Hale (SJ 454 833), Ince (SJ 472 767), Brimstage (SJ 297 833), Moreton (SJ 247 909), Hoylake (SJ 229 882), Heswall (SJ 245 820), Little Hilber (SJ 189 872), Burton Marsh (SJ 286 749) and Gayton (SJ 269 796). (1)
Aerial photography from 1975 shows a control building standing at the site and its protective earthen mound visible as a grassmark. (2)
NGR concords with that given in source 1. The first civil decoys for Liverpool were in place by the summer of 1941. The bombing decoys for Liverpool had limited success, possibly because the decoys were positioned too far out from their intended targets. (3) |