Second World War bulk petrol installation, Little Walden (EHER 20823)

Second World War bulk petrol installation.

During World War Two, "Little Walden" was an American air force base. A plan of the site dated 1945 shows all the buildings and other structures, numbered and listed. No. 69 is shown as "Bulk Petrol Installation (aviation)". <1> 2004. Field survey. To the west of the Hadstock/Saffron Walden road some elements of this installation still survive on what is now Harrison Sayer Nature Reserve. Two huge circles of brickwork stand in the grass, 60 feet apart. They are both of the same pattern, approximately 27 feet in diameter and 15 feet high. The brickwork is 14" thick. In the base of each, at ground level, there is an opening 8 feet wide x 4 feet high with a concrete lintel across the top. These openings face inwards towards each other. The outer brickwork of each circle is badly deteriorating in places and much of the brick is now flaking off. Inside the structure, it is completely empty. The walls are faced with concrete which is cracking; there is no roof and thus the interior is open to the sky. Between the two circles there is the remains of a structure half-hidden in thicket. This appears as a concrete base, perhaps 10 feet square, on which is mounted two plinths, each with the remains of threaded metal bolts sticking up. Around the entire configuration of the installation there is the remains of an access road and around this the earth has been banked up as a protective screen. In analysing the site, it appears probable that initially the installation comprised two steel fuel containers with pipework, valves, etc. Between them was a small building which housed two diesel engines for pumping the fuel in and out. At a later date it was decided that this was too vulnerable to air attack and a brick circle was constructed around each container with the pipework leading out through the base opening to the pump house. With the removal of all steelwork when the airfield closed down, and the collapse of the pump house, all that remains is the brickwork and pump house base. Source: F. Nash. Nine photos of site: <2>