Site of Second World War spigot mortar emplacement, playing field, The Plume School (EHER 20287)

Now destroyed. The probable site of a spigot mortar emplacement which is possibly seen in an aerial photograph from August 1946.

1999. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research. Contemporary records state, 'Spigot Mortar. Secondary School Playing Fields. Map ref. 296254.' (Mil. Ed.). <1> This military grid reference corresponds to the playing field of what was Maldon Grammar School on the east side of Fambridge Road - now The Plume School. A further entry states, '2 storehouses for explosives. Cricket field, Maldon Grammar School. Map ref. 297253'. See EHER 21273 and EHER 21274. These were typically constructed near the spigot mortar emplacement to store the heavy bombs launched by the weapon. It is possible that the emplacement can be seen on an aerial photographic taken in August 1946, although it is very indistinct. If so, it stood in the south-east corner of the school cricket field from where it would have covered Fambridge Road to the west and open ground to the south. <2> An aerial photograph taken in 1960 shows this area returned to grass. <3> <4>