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 | MWB22139 |
---|
Record Type | Monument |
---|
Name | Anti-tank block south of Barnett's Lock Bridge |
---|
Summary
Concrete cuboid, possibly dating from the Second World War if not earlier
Other Statuses and Cross-References
- National Monuments Record No.: SU 46 NW 135
SU 43415 66775 - Pastscape Mon No or Hob UID: 1423175
Monument Type(s):
Full Description
An anti-tank cube formed of a concrete cuboid was identified by Border Archaeology in June 2015 during a field survey of the area near Barnett's Lock Bridge <1><2><3><4> and photographed <3><4>. The cube was interpreted to have been one of a former line of similar blocks positioned adjacent to the railway bridge as part of the GHQ Stop Line Blue, constructed in 1940. It is not listed.
Although the cube features in the Defence of Britain Archive <5> as having this function, something is marked at the same location on the Epoch 3 OS Map of 1911 <6> as well as that of Epoch 5 in 1969 <7>. This could indicate that, even if the cube was used as a Second World War anti-tank obstacle, it may have had an alternative purpose previously.
Sources and further reading
<01> | Border Archaeology. 2015. Archaeological Desk Based Assessment: Barnard's Lock (Marsh Benham) and Skinner's Lock (Kintbury) Railway Bridges. BA1531BLKB. WBC Network. https://doi.org/10.5284/1056217. [Unpublished document / SWB149608] |
<02> | Border Archaeology. 2016. Archaeological Impact Assessment for Barnard's Lock Railway Bridge. BA1652(1531)BLBK. WBC Network. https://doi.org/10.5284/1056360. [Unpublished document / SWB149610] https://doi.org/10.5284/1056360 (Accessed on 16/09/2019) |
<03> | Border Archaeology. 2016. Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, Version 2: Barnard's Lock Railway Bridge, Marsh Benham. BA1531BLKB. 2017 WBC Network.
https://doi.org/10.5284/1056360
https://doi.org/10.5284/1056360. [Unpublished document / SWB149323] |
<04> | JBA Consulting. 2016. Barnard's Lock Underbridge: Environmental Statement. Volume 2. WBC Network. https://doi.org/10.5284/1056360. [Unpublished document / SWB149609] |
<05> | Council for British Archaeology. 2002-06. Defence of Britain project - Digital Archive. 10.5284/1000327. DoB site ref S0008842. [Digital archive / SWB148320] https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/dob/ (Accessed 03/11/2023) |
<06> | Landmark. 1912-24. Digital Ordnance Survey Mapping Epoch 3, 1:2500 (25 inch). Digital. 25 inches to a mile. [Map / SWB14456] |
<07> | Ordnance Survey. 1962-1981. Ordnance Survey Epoch 5, 1:2500. 1:2500. [Map / SWB14665] |
Related Monuments
MWB5578 | GHQ LINE BLUE - KENNET AND AVON CANAL - general record (Monument) |
MWB6063 | NEWBURY TO KINTBURY RAILWAY LINE (Monument) |
MWB20219 | River bridge west of Barnett's Lock (Monument) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
EWB1603 | Desk Based Assessment and Archaeological Impact Assessment of Barnard's Lock Railway Bridge, Marsh Benham |
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.