Site of Second World War HAA Gun Site "C8 Chelmsford: Old Lodge Farm", North East of Chelmsford (EHER 20129)

Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft battery at Old Lodge Farm, which formed part of the defences of Chelmsford. It was armed with four 3.7-inch mobile guns with GL Mark II radar in 1942, when it was manned by 260 Battery of the 84th Royal Artillery Regiment. In 1943 it was manned by 373 Battery of the 118th Royal Artillery Regiment.

NGR's: Gun Emplacements TL 7310 0966 Accommodation Site TL 7296 0970 Documented in contemporary records as "C8 Chelmsford: Old Lodge Farm", a WWII Heavy Anti-Aircraft gun site NE of Chelmsford. Equipment and manning at the site is documented at various dates: It was armed with four 3.7-inch mobile guns with GL Mark II radar in 1942, when it was manned by 260 Battery of the 84th Royal Artillery Regiment. In 1943 it was manned by 373 Battery of the 118th Royal Artillery Regiment. Manning Date Guns Radar Regt Bty 20 May 1942 4 x 3.7"(m) GL Mk II 84 260 22 Jun 1942 4 x 3.7"(m) GL Mk II 9 Dec 1943 118 373 An aerial photograph taken in July 1944 shows four square emplacements on the W side of a track SE of Old Lodge Farm. In the centre is the command post. Around the field, in addition to what are probably huts, there are a number of what appear to be conical structures which it has not been possible to interpret. Approximately 150 yards to the NW, on the W side of a field boundary hedge, at least four curved and pitched roof huts can be seen. An aerial photograph taken in 1960 shows the area to have been completely cleared and returned to agriculture/grassland with no indication of emplacements or hutting. <1> - <3> Site visit July 1998: The area is open cultivated fields with no apparent sign of any remains. One photograph taken of site. <4> No new information from NRHE