The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read
the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our
online HER enquiry form.
| HER Number | MWB16502 |
|---|
| Record Type | Monument |
|---|
| Name | Limberlost Bomb Stores, Crookham Common |
|---|
Summary
Area built for bomb storage presumably for nearby Greenham Common air base, perhaps during the Second World War or Cold War but seemingly not used
Monument Type(s):
- BOMB STORE (Second World War to Mid 20th century - 1941 AD? to 1955 AD?)
Full Description
There is very little documentary evidence on this bomb storage area, although its structures remain remarkably intact in the 21st century as evidenced by modern mapping <1>, aerial photography <2> and a site visit in 2006. It is a polygonal fenced compound covering approximately 80ha with four parallel roads providing access to a series of gantries. There are two rows of nine shelters.
It lies just over 1km from the eastern end of the former extent of Greenham Common airbase, but unlike Bowdown Bomb Stores to the west, does not appear on the Second World War site plan for the airfield <3>. Limberlost also does not appear on maps relating to the Cold War use of Greenham Common <4>.
The earthworks and gantries of this site were surveyed for the 5th Epoch 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map of 1970 <5>. However no structures are mapped in this location on the 5th Epoch OS 1:10,000 scale mapping of 1961; at this time the air base of Greenham Common to the west was also left blank. A 2010 air photograph <8> shows thicker vegetation growth over the site.
The Fairey Survey aerial photographs show the bomb storage site in 1963 clear from vegetation <6>.
An aerial photograph taken either by the RAF or the Luftwaffe between 1939 and 1952 does not show the bomb store. It has not been possible to find a more precise date for this photograph <7>.
Sources and further reading
| <01> | 2007-. OS Master Map (digital). Digital. [Map / SWB147179] |
| <02> | GeoInformation Group. 08/04/2003. West Berkshire Council Aerial Survey 2003 (digital aerial photographs). Aerial Photo. Digital. 1:7000. [Photograph / SWB146766] |
| <03> | Air Ministry. 1945. Greenham Common - Record Site Plan, Dispersed Sites. Dwg No 4818/44. 1:2500. Not marked. [Map / SWB13061] |
| <04> | Department of the Air Force. 06/09/1988. RAF Greenham Common - Record Site Plan. S 77/89. 1:5000. Not numbered. [Map / SWB14709] |
| <05> | Ordnance Survey. 1962-1981. Ordnance Survey Epoch 5, 1:2500. 1:2500. 1:2500, 1970. [Map / SWB14665] |
| <06> | Fairey Survey. 28/07/1963. Fairey 1963 6324/02. Aerial Photo. Digital. [Photograph / SWB149260]
https://ncap.org.uk/frame/11-1-2-87-64 (Accessed 19/10/2020) |
| <07> | getmapping. 1939-1952. getmapping Aerial Data - Historical Imagery. Aerial Photo. Digital. [Photograph / SWB149261] |
| <08> | 2010. West Berkshire Council Aerial Survey 2010 (digital aerial photographs). Aerial Photo. Digital. [Photograph / SWB148137] |
Related Monuments
| MWB6570 | Greenham Common Airbase (RAF Greenham Common) (Monument) |
| MWB16501 | Bowdown World War II Bomb Stores, Greenham Common (Monument) |
| MWB22247 | Nissen Huts, Limberlost Farm, Greenham Common (Building) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
None recordedIf you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.