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| HER Number | MWB23401 |
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| Record Type | Monument |
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| Name | Barrage balloon moorings, Crookham Common |
|---|
Summary
Square setting of concrete slabs with inset heavy iron chain links, probably a mid 20th century mooring for a barrage balloon when it was erected alongside the runway of RAF Greenham Common
Monument Type(s):
Full Description
A square setting of concrete slabs with inset heavy iron chain links was recorded at the eastern end of Greenham Common during a survey in 2009-10 <1>. It is located to the north of hard standings at the east end of the former airfield on the north side of the northern taxiway, and was interpreted as the moorings for a barrage balloon. It was suggested to be of mid-20th century date, perhaps from the Second World War period.
Four concrete slabs form the corner settings of a square 12 metres across, with a fifth concrete slab in the centre. Each slab is 3 metres across and has two chain links, one partly set into the concrete. The link set into the concrete has a diameter of 0.06 metres, while the second attached link has a diameter of 0.05 metres.
The structure is not individually marked on the Fifth Edition OS map of 1970 <2>, but it would have fallen within the lines of one of the circular dispersal areas, which are depicted. The five concrete slabs can be seen in a vertical aerial photograph of 2003 <3>, and also in 2021 <4> although they have become more vegetated.
Sources and further reading
| <01> | Berkshire Archaeological Services. 2011. Historical Environmental Survey and Management Plan for Greenham and Crookham Commons. 2011 WBC Network. Gazetteer ID 20. [Unpublished document / SWB148355]
http://www.westcombe.org.uk/appindex.html (Accessed 07/09/2015) |
| <02> | Ordnance Survey. 1962-1981. Ordnance Survey Epoch 5, 1:2500. 1:2500. [Map / SWB14665] |
| <03> | GeoInformation Group. 08/04/2003. West Berkshire Council Aerial Survey 2003 (digital aerial photographs). Aerial Photo. Digital. 1:7000. [Photograph / SWB146766] |
| <04> | 2021. West Berkshire Council Aerial Survey 2021 (digital aerial photographs). Aerial Photo. Digital. [Photograph / SWB150450] |
Related Monuments
| MWB6570 | Greenham Common Airbase (RAF Greenham Common) (Monument) |
| MWB17568 | Runway, Greenham Common airbase (Monument) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
| EWB1256 | Historical Environmental Survey and Management Plan for Greenham and Crookham Commons |
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