Second World War Spigot Mortar Emplacement, High House Farm Cottage, Purfleet (EHER 10246)

A concrete Second World War spigot mortar emplacement complete with pedestal located within the back garden of Dovecote Cottage.

Beneath low trees inside the E boundary of the garden of High House Farm, is a concrete spigot mortar emplacement complete with pedestal, surmounted by a stainless steel pintle, and ammunition alcoves. Inside the pit and over the capping stones of the alcoves there is a layer of soil in which plants grow. Between the alcoves the concrete has deteriorated and slates have been added to prevent more soil falling in. There are indications that there was once an integral trench typical of such emplacements, but if so this has collapsed and been almost entirely filled with soil such that it now forms a descending path into the pit. The entire area has been planted with low herbaceous plants beneath the trees and the emplacement is maintained as a garden feature. Eight photos of site. <1> Site Visit October 2003: In response to a planning application, the site was visited in October 2003. The spigot mortar emplacement remains essentially the same as it was in 1994 although the surrounding garden is now semi-derelict. On the other side of the boundary hedge and close-board fencing, work is in progress in connection with the Channel Tunnel rail Link. Various measurements were taken. The pit measures 8 feet across excluding the ammunition alcoves. These, of which there are four, are 3' wide x 2' 3" high x 2' deep. The diameter of the mounting pedestal is 3' 4" with a height above soil level of 2' 6". It can be seen to have been shuttered with a circle of wooden palings. Soil falling into the trench has made it difficult to measure but approximately it is 7' 6" from the pit to a dogleg and then a further 5' 6". Five photos taken of site. <2> In 2007 the gun emplacement was investigated and recorded prior to proposed demolition due to development. The emplacement was built on site in an excavated pit: a concrete floor lines the base and lockers were built using the method of concrete shuttering. The gun mounting is a drum of concrete set into a concrete floor and joining the concrete ammunition lockers. The four concrete lockers form a protective gun pit. The V shaped entrance trench is still visible as an earthwork.<3> Mentioned in source. <4> Sept 2012: The pedestal, and part of the ammunition alcoves, has now been dug out and stands beside the surviving gunpowder magazine (EHER 5000), now the Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre. Two photos taken. <5> Additional references <6> <7>