Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement for the former Thorp Arch Royal Ordnance Factory

Moores Furniture Group Ltd, Queen Mary House, Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, LS23 7BR

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Overview

Second World War Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement, circa 1941. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1407624
Date first listed:: 09-Jul-2012
List Entry Name:: Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement for the former Thorp Arch Royal Ordnance Factory
Statutory Address:: Moores Furniture Group Ltd, Queen Mary House, Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, LS23 7BR

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1407624
Date first listed:: 09-Jul-2012
List Entry Name:: Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement for the former Thorp Arch Royal Ordnance Factory
Location Description:: Gun emplacement sited at SE 4559 4671
Statutory Address 1:: Moores Furniture Group Ltd, Queen Mary House, Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, LS23 7BR

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Moores Furniture Group Ltd, Queen Mary House, Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, LS23 7BR

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Leeds (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Walton
National Grid Reference:: SE4558546706

Summary

Second World War Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement, circa 1941.

Reasons for Designation

The Thorp Arch Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement at SE45594671 is listed grade II for the following principal reasons: * Rarity of survival: although large numbers of LAA guns were emplaced during the Second World War, very few still survive because of their relatively insubstantial construction, this example is particularly well preserved. * Mounting: the Motley Stork mounting is an exceptionally rare survival. * ROF Thorp Arch: as a marker for the historic interest of the Royal Ordnance Factory.

History

Thorp Arch was constructed as a Royal Ordnance Filling Factory in 1940-41. This extensive factory was spread over 642 acres (nearly 260 ha) and employed 18,000 workers. Its roll was to assemble and to fill with explosive a wide range of ordnance from 20mm rounds, through to larger artillery shells and bombs. Although the factory's defence against aerial attack was mainly passive (for instance by the buildings being well dispersed) it was also provided with a small number of Light Anti-Aircraft guns to deter low level intruder attacks by enemy aircraft. The gun emplacement at SE 4559 4671 is the last surviving example at Thorp Arch and retains its Motley Stork (also spelt Motley Stalk) mounting which, in this case, is believed to have been for a 20mm Polsten Cannon (a gun used principally by RAF fighters, the ammunition for which was produced at Thorp Arch).

Details

MATERIALS Brick and reinforced concrete,steel gun mounting.DESCRIPTION Low,circular,brick walled emplacement nearly 5m in diameter with a flat concrete roof with a central hole nearly 1.5m in diameter through which the mounting for the gun projects.The steel gun mounting is fixed onto a concrete pedestal that rises from the floor of the emplacement.In operation the gunner stood on the pedestal,with spare ammunition stored beneath the concrete roof.Access to the ammunition store was via a low open doorway on the west side,protected by an outer, brick blast wall.There is also a second access:a very low hatchway,retaining its timber door,through the base of the emplacement's wall on the south east side.

Sources

Books and journals
Christensen, M, 'Archive: Quarterly Journal Of British Industrial And Transport History' in ROF Thorp Arch, (1999)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.