Information for record number MWA9619:
Wolston Royal Observer Corps Underground Monitoring Post

Summary A Royal Observer Corps Underground Monitoring Post at Wolston. Monitoring Posts were to be used in the modern period to report nuclear bursts and to monitor fall-out. The post is located at the intersection of the Fosse and Dyer's Lane.
What Is It?  
Type: Underground Monitoring Post, Royal Observer Corps Site
Period: Unknown
Where Is It?  
Parish: Wolston
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 41 74
(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 The primary role of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) was the recognition and identification of hostile aircraft. With the start of the 'Cold War', and the increased threat of nuclear attack in the 1950s, the ROC were made responsible for reporting nuclear bursts and monitoring fall-out. 1563 underground shelters were constructed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
2 In a large irregualrly shaped compound on the West side of the Fosse Way on the north side of its junction with Dyers Lane. When visited in 2000, this post remained in good condition, All surface features remain intact with some flaking of the green paint. There is a telegraph pole nearby that served the post. A dome on the ventilator shaft indicated that this post was a master post. The hatch is open but both the internal doors are locked. Internally the post is clean and dry with the table, shelf and cupboard in place. Other items remaining include tele-talk, WB1401 speech receiver and WB1410 filter unit, BT wiring and connection boxes, battery switching box, siren box, visitors log, BPI mount, two small splints, one body splint, light, copper earth straps,a few papers, two keys for aerial dome, fore blanket in box, fire bucket, three mattresses, saucepan, kettle and wire brush.
3 Earliest known site elsewhere in county opened in 1959, all closed by 1991. Dates narrowed to reflect this.
4 An aircraft observation post was opened in 1943 with an underground monitoring post opened in May 1960. The Royal Observer Corps was disbanded and the post closed down in September 1991. At the time of closure the Head Observer on the post was Chief Observer David Smith. The site is located (with the surface features intact) in a large irregularly shaped compound on the west side of Fosse Way on the north side of its junction with Dyers Lane. The site was built as part of an extensive network of posts designed to confirm and report hostile aircraft and nuclear attacks on the United Kingdom. At the time of the Defence of Britain survey (1995-2002) the site was found to remain in a good condition.
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Twentieth Century Fortifications in England, vol XI.1
Author/originator: Dobinson C S
Date: 2000
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: vol XI.1
   
Source No:
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Premises, Sites etc. within 30 miles of Harrington Museum used for Military Purposes.
Author/originator: John Brace
Date: Before 2017.
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Premises, Sites etc. within 30 miles of Harrington Museum used for Military Purposes.
Author/originator: John Brace
Date: Before 2017.
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Royal Observer Corps An Online Survey of the UK's R.O.C and UK W.M.O Monitoring Posts
Author/originator: Subterranea Britannica
Date: 2002
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Magnus Alexander
Author/originator: Magnus Alexander
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument SHAFT * Use only if function unknown, otherwise use specific type. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS SITE * A site or structure associated with the activities of the Royal Observer Corps. The Corps was formed on 1 January 1947 and disbanded in 1991. back
monument SHELTER * A structure which protects an area of ground from the weather. back
monument FORTIFICATION * A usually permanent defensive work. Use specific type where known. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument TELEGRAPH POLE * A tall wooden pole used to support telegraph wires. back
monument AIRCRAFT * An aircraft, either whole or in part. Aircraft often survive as commemorative monuments, gate guardians or crash sites. back
monument UNDERGROUND MONITORING POST * A small underground chamber from where it was intended to monitor radioactive fallout in the event of nuclear attack. The majority were built between 1956 and 1964, although construction continued into the early 1970s. back
monument OBSERVATION POST * A building or site for watching specific military activities or the movement of enemy forces, etc. back
monument BATTERY * A site where guns, mortars or searchlights are mounted. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record