Monument record SLY 087 - A World War II Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery battery

A World War II Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery battery is visible on aerial photographs from 1944 onwards, as a range of structures and four earthwork gun emplacements. The gun emplacements are arranged in an arc formation, typical of these emplacements, and the battery's command centre is located at the centre of the arc. A range of additional structures is associated with the battery, including possible magazines, pillboxes, smaller gun emplacements, and several lengths of encircling barbed wire obstructions. The gun emplacements and the foundations of the command centre are clearly visible on photographs in 1979. Also, although only showing one of the surviving gun emplacements, a photograph from 1980 suggests that the site was still intact at this time. By 1986 however, all the features have been removed or filled in. (S1-S4).
Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft battery at Shotley Gate (S5).