Cold War nuclear monitoring post, Little Doggetts Bungalow, Canewdon (EHER 45142)

A Royal Observer Corps monitoring post. The site is located (with the surface features intact) in the rear garden of Little Doggetts on the east side of Hyde Wood Lane. At the time of the Defence of Britain survey (1995-2002) the site was found to remain in a fair condition. The site was opened during January 1962 and closed in October 1968.

June 2003. World War Two Defences in Rochford survey: site visit and desktop research. In the back garden of little Doggetts Bungalow is a 'cold-war' Nuclear Monitoring Post. It consists of an underground chamber which is accessed down a vertical shaft with metal rungs. This is capped by a steel cover set into upstanding brickwork. Below ground, there are two extant wooden doors- one to the toilet, now empty, and the other to the main room. This is in good condition with surviving cabling, work surface, bed, double bunks and cupboard. The meters for the Fixed Survey device and the Bomb Power Indicator have been removed, Underfoot, there is water to a depth of about one inch. Above ground, the metal mounting pipe for the Fixed Survey Meter still survives but the louvred ventilation shaft top has been removed. To block the shaft, hardcore has been tipped down and this has created a small pile in the lower chamber. In the corner of the garden a concrete Orlit post stands extant. <1> <2> Seven photos of site. <3> An independent survey and report, compiled in 1998, records that the site was opened in January 1962 and closed in October 1968. <4> <5> NRHE data transfer: 1995-2002. Defence of Britain survey. A Royal Observer Corps monitoring post. The site is located (with the surface features intact) in the rear garden of Little Doggetts on the east side of Hyde Wood Lane. At the time of the Defence of Britain survey (1995-2002) the site was found to remain in a fair condition. <6> <7> 1998-2007. Subterranea Britannica survey. The site was opened during January 1962 and closed in October 1968. <8>