WWII Searchlight Emplacements

Try on here: www.newcastle.gov.uk/wwwfileroot/legacy/...ar_defence_sites.pdf

A quick look at Google Earth 1945 imagery shows this WW2 style feature near Gibside Hall, not a HAA site but possibly something smaller, like a searchlight site and a bit of accommodation - it's probably worth a mooch in the woodland there.

[IMG]/community/100968=8546-ge 1945 red.jpg[/img]

[IMG]/community/100968=8547-ge 2009 red.jpg[/img]

Now, we need a bit of history !

Attached files [IMG]/community/100968=8544-ge 1945.jpg[/img] [IMG]/community/100968=8545-ge 2009.jpg[/img]

PNK;100988 wrote:

It's a pity there is nowhere to log all sites found. It would be useful as someone might have the answer.

Fairly easy to create an online database to do it but how much info do you think ought to be included?
What sort of sites?
Lat, long, county, url of aerial image, notes?
Or more than that?

That books very useful, thanks! I'll have a better look at the maps and see if anything matches up.

@a10694: that's where I'm looking I think. It's pretty much complete as far as I can tell.

Is there anything in the woods? This site isn't logged in the Searchlighters website as being one of theirs.

Not bad for someone who lives near Chester !

The photo of the searchlight posted by Peter looks very familiar to me, we had one of these in a field near my home in Gt Horkesley in Essex for a short time. I think those in charge lived in tents and the searchlight had a very large canvas canvas cover if I remember correctly. This blew off when a friend and I were being entertained to a wad and a cup of tea, and we disappeared underneath it. My friend, Ashton, and i would have been six or seven at the time I guess, happy wartime memories!

Pauline.

Danebower Searchlight Unit, WW2, A54 Cat & Fiddle to Congleton road, near the site of Danebower Colliery, which is easily identified by the stone chimney, the searchlight site is a couple of hundred yards south, on the same side of the road.

Location: goo.gl/maps/CujoU

It would be "just over the wall", but a vehicle had just removed the wall. There appears to be 3 flat & level circles, with a small mound around each, in a triangle layout, the furthermost now has a ring of vegetation. This site is not in the EDoB either, and I don't know the reason for this site either, unless it was simply another Sandra searchlight site, most realistically for RAF Cranage near Congleton. The three circles are quite distinct, but there may be more - it's hard to tell. The land falls away rapidly to the east.

Site identified from a list of 6 given to me by the Peak District Archaeologist.

Excuse the .... photo quality, it was foggy and raining, the weather was atrocious.

Google Earth



Small circular mound around one location







Easternmost site - surrounded by vegetation



Vehicular modified stone wall, right between the two sites closest to the wall, vegetation site in the distance



For location reference - Danebower colliery chimney, the searchlight site is about 1-200 yards south

Please could someone tell me why I cannot see my pictures via url's from Flickr. The pop up box to add pictures isn't working for me either. cheers

a10694;143649 wrote:

Please could someone tell me why I cannot see my pictures via url's from Flickr. The pop up box to add pictures isn't working for me either. cheers

I can't see them either, but I can see a square through which I can access the link.

Not sure why so you will need to contact Dave (aixadmin)