Second World War anti-invasion scaffolding (EHER 21368)

Second World War anti-invasion scaffolding was erected here to protect the coast from invasion. Much of this scaffolding still remained when the beach was surveyed in 2010.

In World War Two, long runs of anti-invasion scaffolding were erected between the low and high water marks along stretches of the coast deemed to be vulnerable. At Walton, contemporary records state, “Tubular Scaffolding, Wiring & other Beach defences. Cliffs, beach & foreshore, fronting Golf Course, The Naze.” <1> This scaffolding can be seen on an aerial photograph taken in July 1946 making its way along the coast from the Tower Breakwater towards the headland to saltings to the north of The Naze. Here, the saltings would have made a landing very unlikely. Nothing can be seen south of the Tower Breakwater although by the time of the 1946 aerial photograph any continuation of the scaffolding southwards may have been taken down. <2> Site visit by F. Nash, March 2010: Walked in March 2010, there were many lengths of scaffolding lying in the mud between the low and high water marks. At one point, around TM 2670 2410, three small stands of bolted scaffolding stuck up out of the sea perhaps 30/40 yards off-shore. At the time of the site visit it was inaccessible but appeared to be surviving parts of the anti-invasion barrier still in situ. Two photos of site. <3> A study of aerial photographs at the NMR, Swindon, and wartime ground level photographs which have come to light, have revealed that the anti-invasion scaffolding ran for much further southwards than apparent on the 1946 aerial photographs. The scaffolding was clearly constructed between February 1941 and July 1941 as nothing can be seen on aerial photographs of the earlier date whereas it can be seen to be almost completed, other than a short length at the north end of the Naze, by the later date. These clear images show the scaffolding continuing south of the Tower Breakwater, in an unbroken line close to the top of the beach, passed the Mabel Greville Breakwater, Jubilee Beach, East Terrace Breakwater and Albion Breakwater to the main pier in Walton. It can be seen to have continued on the south side of the pier, passed Winchester Breakwater to Pavilion Breakwater. 1941 aerial photographs south of Pavilion Breakwater have not yet been accessed from NMR, Swindon. <4> <5> Ground level photographs taken during the war provide a particularly graphic illustration of the size and extent of the scaffolding from a different dimension. Two have been discovered showing sections of this newly-recorded extension south of the Naze. Photo No. 1: A local photograph taken on the beach alongside the scaffolding in 1944 show it still standing at that time. The location is identified as Jubilee Beach taken looking North towards the headland by the Mabel Greville Breakwater. The length of scaffolding seen in the picture is about 200 yards stretching from TM 2629 2286 to around TM 2639 2300. <6> Photo No. 2: A photograph taken on 11 March 1944 shows General Montgomery in a group of mainly service personnel standing on the cliff-top overlooking the beach. The photograph, from the Imperial War Museum, appears in "Seaside Front Line", Rayner, G, 2005. Beneath this picture, in the book, the caption reads, "On 11th March 1944 General Montgomery's tour of invasion forces in Britain brought him to Frinton and Walton. While waiting for his train, at the Southcliff end of Woodberry Way, the General looks out over Walton Pier. Scaffolding, erected against the invasion that did not come, still lines the beach between Winchester and Pavilion Breakwaters." Although Winchester Pier is just off the photo to the left, the scaffolding is clearly visible running along the beach to the breakwater to the right (south). However, this is not Pavilion Breakwater. Pavilion Breakwater led out to sea from a "bulge" in the promenade not far to the right of the viewing position. It no longer exists although the "bulge" is still there. The breakwater visible in the photo to which the scaffolding can be seen to run is, in fact, Burnt House Breakwater, which still exists. <7> <8> Site visit by F. Nash in February 2012: The exact point on the cliff-top was visited in February 2012 and a comparative photograph taken. The party stood on a concrete ledge, still surviving but now with steel railings along the top, immediately outside a short row of cottages. The precise point is the parapet outside No. 9 Southcliff. <9> It is not known at the time of compiling this update whether the scaffolding continued south of Burnt House Breakwater. Possibly not, as the cliffs here are very high, seemingly unclimbable by armour. Although, as reported in March 2010, lengths of scaffolding still lie in the mud at the north end of the Naze, it is thought unlikely that any still survives between the Naze and Burnt House Breakwater.