Royal Observer Corps (ROC) Orlit Type B visual observation post and an ROC underground monitoring station, 604m west-north-west of Lodge Farm

A Royal Observer Corps (ROC) Orlit Type B visual observation post, built between 1952 and 1956, and an ROC underground nuclear monitoring post, constructed in 1968.

ROC ORLIT TYPE B VISUAL OBSERVATION POST

MATERIALS: it is constructed from prefabricated concrete panels with a concrete slab roof over the former equipment store and shelter on the west side; the former observation room is unroofed.

PLAN: of rectangular plan, aligned east to west, raised 1.82m above the level of the ground surface on four concrete legs.

EXTERIOR: the Orlit Type B visual observation post, which follows a standard design by Messrs Orlit Ltd of Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire, is largely comprised of prefabricated concrete panels to all four sides. At the west end of the south side there is a doorway (door now missing) accessed by a concrete ladder with steel rungs and steel handrail.

INTERIOR: the doorway leads in to the former equipment store and shelter at the west end of the structure. Adjoining to its east, and divided from it by a concrete partition wall, is the former operation room which is unroofed. No fixtures and fittings of note are known to survive.

ROC UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR MONITORING POST

MATERIALS: of reinforced concrete with a compacted earth covering.

PLAN: it is rectangular on plan, aligned north-east to south-west.

EXTERIOR: the underground monitoring post follows the standard Cold War design and consists of a rectangular-shaped, reinforced-concrete bunker concealed beneath a low, elongated earthen mound. Protruding from the top of the mound at its north-east end is a raised, concrete, entrance hatch while a smaller, raised, concrete air vent rises at the south-west end, between which are two metal monitoring probes. Placed on top of the air vent adjacent to the entrance hatch is the mushroom-shaped mounting for the Ground Zero Indicator.

INTERIOR: the access hatch has a counterweighted steel door (now welded shut) to a 4.6m deep shaft containing a single metal ladder. At the bottom of the shaft there is a small chamber containing a store cupboard and chemical toilet and a door leading to the monitoring room which measures approximately 4.5m by 2.25m.