Site of Second World War defended area, Far Thorpe Green, Thorpe-le-Soken (EHER 21559)

The site of a World War Two “nodal” point with sites of two gun emplacements, now destroyed. This commanding position, up a long strait hill, is thought to have been a wartime “nodal” point, blocking the approach of enemy armour and troops towards Colchester. The gun emplacement was in the corner of a small field beside the road. These two structures are both recalled by the long-standing owner of the site.

In open countryside to the west of Thorpe-le-Soken, the road to Colchester climbs a long, straight hill. At the top are several houses in a small area known as Far Thorpe Green. This commanding position is thought to have been a wartime “nodal” point, blocking the approach of enemy armour and troops towards Colchester. There was a gun emplacement in the corner of a small field beside the road. The contemporary records state, “Gun emplacement. Land at Elmers Farm, Far Thorpe Green”. Beside a track 150 yards to the south, there was another emplacement, documented as “Dannert & Apron wiring. Sandbagged emplacement. Grounds of Greenlands, Far Thorpe Green.” The former covered the road, the latter the open fields behind. Aerial photographs taken in 1946 show this latter emplacement as a rectangular enclosure and the hedges around the site to have been cleared to provide open fields of fire. <1> <2> These two structures are both recalled by the long-standing owner of the site. <3>