Site of a Second World War road barrier, A137, Manningtree Station, Lawford (EHER 21583)

The site of a Second World War road barrier, now destroyed. It is clear from contemporary records and 1940s aerial photographs that the riverside area of Manningtree / Lawford was ringed by road barriers during World War Two. Every bridge under or over the encircling railway line is either documented as such or shows anti-tank socket marks across the carriageway, on 1946 aerial photographs. At the extreme southern end of the overpass white markings can be seen on an aerial photograph taken in 1946. These are thought to be the marks left by a road barrier after it had been taken up.

The site of a Second World War road barrier, now destroyed. It is clear from contemporary records and 1940s aerial photographs that the riverside area of Manningtree / Lawford was ringed by road barriers during World War Two. Every bridge under or over the encircling railway line is either documented as such or shows anti-tank socket marks across the carriageway, on 1946 aerial photographs. <1> <2> The bridge on the main A137 road, just to the east of Manningtree Station has the wartime entry, “Road Barrier. Manningtree Station Bridge. Map ref. 544?04.” (Mil. Ed.) This is assumed to refer to the overpass where the road goes over the railway line, clearly seen on aerial photos, rather than the underpass which stands immediately alongside it. At the extreme southern end of the overpass white markings can be seen on an aerial photograph taken in 1946. These are thought to be the marks left by a road barrier after it had been taken up. <3> <4>