Site of Second World War Bombing Decoy "Epping" (EHER 20300)

This was the site of a Second World War bombing decoy site. It was built as part of the 'C-series' of civil decoys to deflect enemy bombing from Waltham Abbey, probably the Royal Ordnance Works. This was a 'QF' decoy, which consisted of a series of controlled fires lit during an air raid to replicate a target struck by bombs. The site is referenced as being in use during 1943, but could have been in use throughout the duration of the war. Aerial photography from 1969 shows that the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive.

November 1999: Documented in contemporary records, "Epping" was a World War Two C series (civil) decoy parented by "Waltham Abbey" " presumably to deflect enemy bombing from Waltham Abbey Royal Ordnance Works. <1> records that the site was a QF type - a type which attempted to replicate the night-time fires from a successful raid on a specific target. QFs mainly used basket fires but could add other fire sources to these depending on the nature of the target being replicated. Located some distance from the decoy area, the electrical ignition for the fires was controlled from an earth-covered "night shelter" which housed the generator and switchgear. It is referenced as being in use on 01-MAY-1943. <1> <2> Site visit November 1999: The area of the decoy is farmland with small copses of trees, north of Copped Hall. The contemporary Military Grid Reference of the site, 107/877215, is an open field on the north side of a small valley. Nothing remains to be seen now and an aerial photograph taken in June 1947 gives little indication of the site or the position of the night shelter. However, night shelters were typically sited several hundred yards away, overlooking the decoy, and the logical position for the shelter at "Epping" would have been at TL 4336 0212. This is by a band of trees on the south side of the valley immediately alongside a broad track which leads directly to the decoy field. There is a clear view of the decoy, 500 yards away, from this position. The 1947 aerial photograph shows an area of recently cleared ground here, of the "correct" size. Broken concrete and brick which survive at this location are not thought to be from the night shelter. <3> Three photos of site. <4> Report ref <5> Aerial photography shows that by 1969 the site had been given over to agricultural use and no features of the decoy survive. <6> NGR in <7> concords with that given in <1>. The Royal Ordnance Works was likely the target in Waltham Abbey which needed protection from enemy raids. It speculates that a control building could have been located at TL 4336 0212. <8>