Site of Second World War road barrier, 'Back Line', Lower Burnham Road (EHER 20632)

Now destroyed. A Second World War road barrier and concrete 'pimples' were sited across the carriageway on Lower Burnham Road from Purleigh Barns Farm on the North of the road to Uleham's Farm on the South of the road. It formed part of the 'Back Line' defence which ran North to South across Latchingdon and comprised an anti-tank ditch.

November 2002-January 2003. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: site visit and desktop research. During World War Two, the 'Back Line' defence line ran North to South across Latchingdon. Here, it crossed Lower Burnham Road, following the passage of a drainage ditch which would have been widened and then re-filled in after the war. To bridge the road, concrete 'pimples' were emplaced at each side, probably with a removable barrier across the carriageway. Contemporary records state, 'Concrete Pimples. Uleham’s Farm. Map ref. 318172 (Mil. Ed.)'. Uleham’s Farm is South of the road. And, 'A/T [anti-tank] Ditch, Gun Positions. Concrete Pimples. Purleigh Barns Farm. Map ref. 318172 (Mil. Ed.)'. Purleigh Barns Farm is North of the road. <1> <2> Some of the pimples can be faintly made out, possibly in three rows between the roadside and the ditch, on an aerial photograph taken in May 1946. <3> When visited, it was noted that nothing now survives. <4>