Site of Second World War road barrier and concrete pimples, Burnham Road (EHER 21283)

Now destroyed. A road barrier was probably located at the junction of Burnham Road and Kings Road, and concrete pimples were probably located in Burnham Road to the South, situated outside No. 87 which may have been previously called Mill House.

October 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey. Contemporary records state, ‘4 Concrete Pimples. Mill House, Burnham Road. Map ref. 401177’ and ‘Road Barrier. Road No. 1021, Wellington’s Corner. Map ref 401176.’ (Mil. Ed.). <1><2> A mill originally stood on the West side of Burnham Road at TQ 9554 9929 (see EHER 11323). A study of the Electoral Register for 1949 establishes that Mill House was, in fact, No. 49, a house which still stands very close to the corner. A road barrier here would have sealed off this approach into Southminster from the South. <3> Note: No. 49 Burnham Road is a terraced property situated further along the road to the North from the site of the post-medieval windmill (EHER 11323). Some confusion seems to have occurred in this record as to the location of Mill House. No. 87 Burnham Road is the closest property to the site of the windmill and may therefore be a candidate for 'Mill House', whilst No. 73 Burnham Road is the closest property to the junction where Burnham Road joins Kings Road and is also present on the 3rd ed OS map, also making it a possible candidate. This map also shows the plot immediately to the North of the junction as being called 'Wellingtons', and as such, this is the probable location of the road barrier, whilst the concrete pimples were probably situated outside of No. 87 Burnham Road. <4>