Site of Second World War spigot mortar emplacement, 2 Wantz Road (EHER 20286)

Now destroyed. The site of a spigot mortar emplacement which was discovered during works in the garden at No.2 Wantz Road. The location is unusual as its firing range would have been reduced by buildings in every direction. It can be seen in an aerial photograph from 1946.

1999. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: site visit and desktop research. Contemporary records state, 'Spigot Mortar. 2 Wantz Street. Map ref. 298254.' (Mil. Ed.). <1> The central mounting pedestal of this emplacement was uncovered during work on the side garden of No.2 Wantz Road (not Street) approximately 15 years ago. It lay almost immediately outside the doorway of a small extension to the house and was subsequently re-covered by the construction of a low garden wall leading up to the lawn. <2> This location presents something of a puzzle. Spigot mortars were normally sited where they could cover the expected line of attack, with a recommended firing range of 75/100 yards. From its position in this garden it could not have fired down Wantz Road or up or down High Street as wartime buildings masked every direction, and its minimum effective range would therefore have been cut to around 40 yards to the houses on the north side of High Street. <3> <4> See photos <5> <6>. Source <7> implies the spigot mortar may have been sited as a backup defence for the road barrier to the south on Mundon Road, EHER 10650. <7>