Second World War petroleum warfare pipeline, from Beacon Hill Farm, St Lawrence (EHER 21311)

A petroleum warfare pipeline, running from Beacon Hill Farm to the River Blackwater. It is not known at what point, or points, it discharged into the River Blackwater though it is thought to comprise multiple branches. It is also not known how much of the pipe itself still remains beneath the ground, though it is probably mostly extant. A shut-off valve is still also partially extant, comprising a brick and concrete pit with a central steel pedestal and wheel. Originally, the pipeline was serviced by fuel tanks at Beacon Hill Farm, though these are no longer extant.

December 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: site visit and desktop research. There have been numerous reports that during World War Two a pipeline was laid from a hill at St Lawrence to the River Blackwater to provide petroleum for flooding the river with a blazing barrage in the event of an invasion. This is confirmed by the landowner. The tanks which held the fuel were at Beacon Hill Farm, on a high hill overlooking the river, perhaps 800 yards to the North. It is recalled that they were located some yards to the East of a large barn which still stands on the hilltop, but were dismantled and taken away years ago. The 9” pipeline ran underground towards the sea alongside a clear track which starts on the North side of the barn at TL 9638 0503. It drops sharply downhill. At TL 9632 0537 there is junction of tracks, one arm leading North directly to the river and one going West, now inside a caravan park. The owner reports that many years ago they cut into the pipe at two places, the top of the hill and at a point along the Westward caravan track. This was to provide a ready-made conduit for a water supply from the farm to the bottom of the hill. It is therefore known that the pipeline, under the ground, leads Westwards from the track junction. However, it is also possible that it splits somewhere to provide more than one outlet to the river. The pipe has not been traced North of the caravan track and it is not known at what point, or points, it discharged into the River Blackwater. <1> <2> However, on the East side of the track and a drainage ditch, close to the top of the hill at approximately TL 9638 0509, there is physical evidence of this rare form of defence archaeology. In the grass, there is a four-foot square, 3’ 6” deep, brick and concrete pit. Rising from the centre is a 2’ 6” high steel pedestal, surmounted by a 15” diameter wheel. Recalled by local memory, this was clearly a shut-off valve let into the underground pipeline. There would have been a cover to the pit but this is no longer there. <1> <2> <3> Seven photos. <4> SITE ASSESSMENT: This is the only recorded extant Petroleum Warfare pipeline in Essex although there is known to have been extensive testing of such devices at Shoeburyness. It is not known how much of the pipe itself still remains beneath the ground, probably most of it. The shut-off pit is clear surviving evidence and every effort should be made to ensure its continued existence, ultimately to Scheduled Monument status. <2> An aerial photograph from January 1944 shows possibly three fuel tanks. <5>