Summary
A Second World War position for using a ‘Blacker Bombard’ 29mm spigot mortar on a fixed swivel mounting, including two emplacements and an associated store and surviving as visible earthworks with concrete fittings, and an upstanding brick and concrete structure.
Reasons for Designation
The spigot mortar position at Hapton is scheduled for the following principal reasons:
* Rarity: the Hapton spigot mortar position is a rare example nationally given that two emplacements are located together and close to an associated store;
* Regional significance: this is one of only a handful of spigot mortar emplacements known in the north-west of England;
* Intactness: the position survives well and is readable, retaining a diversity of original features;
* Date: spigot mortar emplacements were an important component of the nation’s Second World War defence policy and are therefore representative of this period;
* Historical interest: the site has the potential to enhance our understanding of the construction, function and use of this type of defensive structure during the war.
History
From the summer of 1940 England's defences were strengthened against the threat of German invasion. Large numbers of diverse types of defensive structures were built across the whole country, from road and rail blocks to earthwork gun emplacements, barbed-wire entanglements, anti-tank ditches and pillboxes. The full range of such structures was generally complementary, with a variety often built together, either at vulnerable or strategically important nodal points, around vital installations such as airfields, or arranged in linear defensive systems called ‘Stop Lines’ that were intended to obstruct the enemy's advance.
Following the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 there was a grave shortage of anti-tank guns and ammunition. One possible solution to this deficit was an infantry anti-tank weapon designed by Stuart Blacker, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. Known as the ‘Blacker Bombard’, this was based on his earlier version of a spigot mortar (unlike conventional mortars with a barrel, a spigot mortar has a steel ‘spigot’ onto which the projectile slides). Blacker’s idea was to swivel-mount a spigot mortar with a trigger firing mechanism for ease of transportation and operation, and to use it in an anti-tank role. Despite initial objections to the idea from high-ranking military and government officials, a demonstration of the weapon on the 18 August 1940, at which Prime Minister Winston Churchill was present, led to it being put into full production on Churchill’s orders. An initial 16,000 were made in July 1941 and were split more or less evenly between the regular forces and the Home Guard. By mid-December c8,000 had been issued, and the initial order was increased to 28,000; ultimately nearly 29,000 were made.
An important development came on 14 September 1941, when a design was issued (Directorate of Fortifications and Works drawing 55280) for a fixed mounting for the weapon. Previously heavy folding legs had been used to mount spigot mortars. The new design provided an alternative in the form of a fixed emplacement comprising a concrete ‘thimble’ of approximately 1m diameter and 1m in height, with a central steel pin which would engage the underside of the weapon and form a swivel mounting. The thimble was to be sited in a pit c1.2m deep with access all around, and the drawing showed a deeper approach trench and up to four concrete ammunition lockers recessed into the walls of the weapons pit. By using these pre-prepared emplacements, the weapon could be made much more portable but still be fired with sufficient accuracy and protection for the crew – and it could also still be mounted on the legs if desired. The order of priority in deployment was (i) on beaches, (ii) for nodal point defences, including those held by the Home Guard, and (iii) on airfields. The Bombard was widely used to cover roadblocks, and GHQ recommended that where possible pedestal mounting should be used in preference to the portable mount. In theory, sufficient materials for four emplacements were to be issued with each weapon, but in practice fewer than 8,000 of these static mountings were issued. When installed, many of these deviated significantly from the standard drawing; when sited at strategic locations such as camp entrances, the pit was often omitted, and because of shortages of materials, pits for ambush positions were also often improvised without the ammunition lockers and approach trench. The volunteer field survey ‘The Defence of Britain Project ‘, which was run by the Council for British Archaeology in the late 1990s, recorded 237 Blacker Bombard pedestals surviving in England and while not a comprehensive survey this provides some indication of the very high rates of attrition since the war.
The Blacker Bombard position at Hapton was built within the grounds of Hapton House, which first appears on the 1893 1:10,000 OS map, with the land adjacent to the S occupied by the Hapton Chemical Works. This map shows the low retaining wall to the north of the emplacements, and shows the site of the pits as part of the house’s garden. The 1912 edition more clearly marks the steps down through the wall and appears to indicate that the house and chemical works were in the same ownership at that date. The house still appears on the 1:10,000 OS map of 1965, but not on the 1979 edition. No detailed history of the construction of the position is known and it does not appear on any map. However, as it does not form part of a Stop Line, it is likely to have been created by a Home Guard unit, perhaps related to the factory. The site has been photographed by local group Hapton Heritage but no investigation is known to have taken place.
The siting of the two emplacements so close together suggests an intention to use one if firing to the N and the other if firing to the S, with the ammunition locker to the same side of the loader in either case. The position is within firing range of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal bridge 121 and although here the canal did not (as it did further to the E) form part of a Stop Line, the western pit could have been used to protect the canal crossing, or in ambush of enemies entering the grounds of the house. The eastern position could have been used for firing across the slightly lower ground to the N. This is an unlikely direction of enemy approach; however moving targets could easily be set up here, and it would be highly suitable for practice firing. The associated store is likely to have been used for storing the weapons themselves, additional ammunition not in ready use (and at a safe distance from the emplacements), and the large folding legs for the spigot mortars.
Details
A Second World War ‘Blacker Bombard’ spigot mortar position including two emplacements and an associated store.
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: the monument includes two circular weapons pits visible as low earthworks with exposed concrete structures (pedestals and ready-use ammunition lockers), with an approach trench, and an associated brick and concrete store.
DESCRIPTION: situated within a former private garden, currently (2016) part of an industrial site due to be redeveloped for housing, the site is located on a level platform approximately 1.2m high which is retained by a stone wall approximately 0.5m to the N. Approximately 120m to the S is the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, from which the ground falls gently to the N.
The first weapons pit is situated c45.5m to the E of the road. This comprises a circular pit c0.5m deep and 3m in diameter, with a central concrete thimble 1m in diameter, a peripheral concrete locker 0.8m wide and 0.4m long with flat top and sides, and surrounded by a low bank c1-1.5m wide. The bank has a gap on the W side, c2m wide at the top sloping down to c1.5m wide at the base. The locker is situated due E. The concrete thimble retains (in good condition) the stainless steel pin on which the Bombard was mounted. The second weapons pit is of similar dimensions and located 4.5m further to the E. However, its locker is located at the NW. Its thimble and pin are in similar condition. It is served by an approach trench which is visible as a very shallow depression c1m wide. This leaves the pit to the N of due E and runs eastward for c4m before running S for c9m.
The store stands c11m to the E of Manchester Road and measures 3.85m long and 1.75m wide, with the long axis aligned E-W. This is a brick (English bond) and concrete structure with the remains of its corrugated-iron roof: this is essentially an Anderson shelter design, adapted to create a store. The brick ends including a doorway in the E facing end, and concrete sides. The brick ends are slightly truncated but stand to c2m tall; they curve gently inwards above c1.5m and the curve suggests that the overall height would have been c2.5m. The concrete sides stand c1m tall. The apparent method of construction was the erection of the arched corrugated-iron roof, retained by concrete shuttering to 1m high along the sides inside and out, and then the erection of brick walls within the arch at either end, fitted around the inward-projecting concrete plinth.
EXTENT OF SCHEDULING: the scheduled monument includes the known extent of the position and comprises two discrete areas. The first is focussed on the weapons pits and approach trench, and the second on the store. The areas are defined by a 2m buffer around the visible remains for their protection and management.
