Information for record number MWA7988:
RAF Wellesbourne Mountford - Direction finding site

Summary The site of a direction finding station which was used by aircraft to find their bearings. It is associated with Wellesbourne Mountford airfield and is situated 900m north of Red Hill Wood.
What Is It?  
Type: Radar Beacon
Period: Unknown
Where Is It?  
Parish: Wellesbourne
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 25 53
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Direction finding (D/F) stations enabled aircraft to find their position by taking bearings on two or three stations. The transmissions could be on Medium Frequency (M/F), High Frequency (H/F) or Very High Frequency (VHF). The D/F site usually consisted of a small rest hut, an octagonal timber transmission hut or tower contained within a square or circular timber pallisade fence, a transformer kiosk and occasionally a stand by generator.
2 Airfield plan - not to scale.
3 The site of a Second World War direction finding station or radar station is visible on aerial photographs and is located about 400metres west of Farmmington Court. The direction finding station was used to help aircraft find their bearings to and from RAF Wellesbourne Mountford (Monument Number 1431276). The station is defined by a square enclosure surrounding a building or structure from which to house either a building or tower. An adjacent building may be the operations block, which probably also housed the transformer and stand by generator. The station was demolished by 1993. Mapped as part of the South-East Warwickshire and Cotswold Hills HLS National Mapping Programme.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: C20 Defences in Britain - Introductory Guide
Author/originator: Lowry, B. (ed)
Date: 1995
Page Number: 123
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: SE Warwickshire and Cotswolds NMP Project
Author/originator: Amanda Dickson
Date: 2010-2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Map
Title: Wellesbourne Mountford
Author/originator:
Date: 1942
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Aerial Photograph Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument KIOSK * A light, open structure for the sale of newspapers, tickets, etc. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument HUT * A building of basic construction, usually smaller in size than a house and constructed from a variety of materials such as mud, turf, branches, wood, brick, concrete or metal. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SQUARE ENCLOSURE * A square shaped area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier. Small square enclosures (with sides of less than c.20m) have been interpreted as the remains of square barrows of Iron Age date. back
monument RADAR BEACON * A structure which allows aircraft fitted with radar equipment to 'home' in on an airfield in the dark or in poor visibility, and land safely. Radar beacons can also be used as navigation aids. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument RED HILL * Iron Age or Roman coastal site producing salt by boiling of seawater in fired clay pans, resulting in characteristic mounds of 'BRIQUETAGE' (see Archaeological Objects Thesaurus). back
monument SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. back
monument AIRCRAFT * An aircraft, either whole or in part. Aircraft often survive as commemorative monuments, gate guardians or crash sites. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument OPERATIONS BLOCK * A building of varying designs intended for directing military aviation operations. Normally associated with military airfields. back
monument AIRFIELD * An area or site used for the landing and take-off of aircraft, often including associated buildings, equipment and other installations. back
monument RADAR STATION * A building or site incorporating equipment used for detecting the presence of enemy aircraft or ships. Radar Stations can also be used to aid aircraft navigation in dark or poor conditions. back
monument FENCE * A construction of wood or metal used to enclose an area of land, a building, etc. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record