Monument record BNH 063 - World War I Mustard Gas forward filling station and hutted complex

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Summary

Mustard Gas forward filling station and hutted complex. Associated with 1st World war tank testing and 1st WW Mustard gas production and 2nd WW Mustard gas storage and bomb making (BNH 054).

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 85285 77876 (1611m by 1533m)
Map sheet TL87NE
Civil Parish BARNHAM, ST EDMUNDSBURY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (7)

Full Description

Mustard Gas forward filling station and hutted complex. Associated with 1st World war tank testing and 1st WW Mustard gas production and 2nd WW Mustard gas storage (some was sent to India in 1942 accompanied by Dr Howes - see below) and bomb making (BNH 054).
Mustard Gas filling station (built between 1941 & 1944), and hutted complex. Associated with cold war military camp (BNH 054). Hutted complex no longer remains. Seen on 1946 AP's (S1). Mapped area extended Feb 2009 after (S1). Still shown (in use?) with rail link on 1958 OS map. 'Works' by 1983 mapping. Now in use as tank museum (2010).
Subterranea Britannica website suggests the rows of Nissen huts on the NW side of the site were of WW1 date (when used as part of a tank range (associated with some of the first tank testing in the country). The 1945/6 RAF AP shows a range of what appear to be standard size 'nissen' type huts to the S but a group of larger huts to the west which do have the appearance of first WW timber versions (S1).
For details of filling station see website (& parish file).
A Dr Howes, who was stationed at Barnham Camp during the 2nd World War and whose Grandfather was head-keeper on the Elveden Estate, states that Triangle Plantation (to the NW of the 2nd WW gas filling station) was a mustard gas factory in the 1st WW. Small arms were also stored there. The plantation included the foundations of various buildings and a round or oval reservoir there in the 2nd WW (Dr Howes, pers comm, Aug 2011)(area of site extended to include the plantation, 16/11/2011).

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <S1> Photograph: Air Photographs. RAF, c1946, Air Photo..

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Apr 26 2018 3:43PM

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