Command Post at Croft Farm

Command Post at Croft Farm

This is a Second World War command post constructed of concrete and red brick, built on a north-south axis beneath a modern dwelling. The structure is irregular on plan and non-standard in design.

The main roofed range stands to the west and comprises three bays. Access is via reinforced concrete steps in the north-east of the central bay leading down into the principal plotting room from an unroofed eastern section. The plotting room is partially subdivided by concrete and brick piers, with doorways connecting to the north and south bays. The single-depth room in the north end crosses the north-east corner of the central bay, extending eastwards alongside the external steps. It features an angled east wall and an escape hatch in the west wall. The south bay extends two rooms deep and projects beyond the east wall of the plotting room. Three further escape hatches are built into various walls. The roofed structure is largely hidden underground, with four brick-lined openings at ground level serving the escape hatches, though one is obscured by the overlying dwelling.

The unroofed eastern section contains steps rising to ground level south of the main entrance. Adjacent to the north bay is a square spotting telescope station. To the north stands a rectangular former predictor station with infilled steps to ground level at its north-east corner. To the south, adjacent to the central and south bays, is an infilled octagonal optical rangefinder station. Further east is a rectangular roofed rest shelter with opposing windows in its flank walls positioned partly below ground level. Its roof is a large concrete slab measuring 4 metres by 6.5 metres, with a square concrete chimney flue immediately to the east. The passageways in the unroofed area are constructed of concrete, approximately 2 metres tall, with walls of local red brick.

Interior surfaces consist of concrete floors and roofs with red brick walls. Some Second World War paint survives. Original WWII lighting with grilles, fuse box and cabling remain in situ in the plotting room and adjacent spaces. Numerous iron and timber fixings are visible in walls and on door jambs. Evidence of former partitioning, shelving and chiselled recesses for cabling is present throughout. A brick hearth occupies the north-west corner of the plotting room. The shelter to the east contains a hearth with an iron grate. The unroofed areas retain various iron fittings. A painted "S" is marked on the south wall of the spotting telescope station. Both the predictor and spotting telescope stations show minor brick alterations.

To the south-east stands an intact gun emplacement designed to house a 3.7-inch static gun. It is constructed of concrete and brick on a 6-metre-thick concrete base, with brick and concrete ammunition lockers and two door openings. An underground cabling trench connects the command post to this emplacement. Further trenches extend to the remains of three additional emplacements to the west and north-west, of which only concrete bases are thought to survive.