Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 1440777
Hob Uid: 1440777
Location : Oxfordshire Cherwell Launton
Grid Ref : SP5971324000
Summary : An airfield defence site at the former RAF Bicester airfield. This group of defences comprises a 50 metre long seagull trench flanked by two "mushroom" or cantilevered pillboxes, situated about 300 metres to the west of the bomb stores in the southern part of the airfield. The name of the seagull trench derives from the similarity in the "W-shaped" zig-zag plan of the trench to a schematic drawing of a seagull's wings in flight. Seagull trenches were specially designed to defend military airfields. This group is one of the 16 contraint areas making up the Scheduling of sections of the former military airfield.
More information : A scheduled group of defensive features at the former RAF Bicester airfield. This group of defences comprises a 50 metre long seagull trench flanked by two "mushroom" or cantilevered pillboxes, situated about 300 metres to the west of the bomb stores in the southern part of the airfield. The group is within one of the 16 contraint areas forming the scheduling for sections of the airfield: constraint area 2, centred on SP 597113 24000. (1) The name of the seagull trench derives from the similarity in the "W-shaped" zig-zag plan of the trench to a schematic child's drawing of a seagull's wings in flight. Seagull trenches were specially designed to defend military airfields. (2)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : 28-Feb-06
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : Revised edition.
Page(s) : 124
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : no.12

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : World War II
Monument End Date : 1945
Monument Start Date : 1939
Monument Type : Seagull Trench, Pillbox (Cantilevered), Trench, Pillbox, Airfield Defence Site
Evidence : Structure

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 30907
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1021455
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SP 52 SE 125
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 1440777