Second World War minefield control tower, SE of Holliwell Farm (EHER 10004)

A fortified observation tower at the mouth of the River Crouch on its Northern bank, SE of Holliwell Farm. It is a highly unusual structure and unique in England. The tower stands on the edge of an open field adjacent to the sea wall; a pillbox (EHER 10005) is built into the sea wall some 15m to the SE of the tower. In 1941 the main function of both structures was to control the estuary minefield which defended the River Crouch at this point. The observation tower is a two-storey hexagonal tower, constructed of concrete and brick with walls, surmounted by a cupola. In 1940, after the German occupation of France, Burnham-on-Crouch became of serious interest to both the Royal Navy and the British Army as a possible scene of an attempted landing by enemy forces seeking to find a short and undefended passage to London. The River Crouch offered just such a passage, by-passing the main defences of the Rivers Thames and Medway.

1993. World War Two Defences on the Essex Coast pilot survey. Totally unusual, 22ft high x 20ft wide observation post built as a two-storey hexagonal tower surmounted by a concrete cupola. Constructed of 2ft thick concrete, the lower level is a pillbox/strong point with a total of 17 machine gun apertures at two heights giving a 360 degree defence. The upper floor is reached by an open hatchway (no ladder). This is a 16ft wide room with a high pyramidal ceiling at the apex of which is the 6ft wide cupola containing a firing slot with steel flap in each of its six sides. The dominant feature of the upper room is a concrete platform above which is a 6ft wide by 16ft high look-out slot set in the South wall. From this position one can see above the sea wall, some 50 yards distant, and across the mouth of the River Crouch. The building, striking for its size, unfamiliar shape and wealth of loopholes, totally dominates the wide landscape. In contemporary records it is listed as 'O.P.'. 'Fortifications of East Anglia' (see <2>) shows a sketch and states, 'The Crouch was defended by a minefield controlled from this tower on the North bank'. <1> <2> <3> Seven photos. <4> For aerial photos see <5> <6> <7>. 1995-2002. Defence of Britain survey. Location: SE of Holliwell Farm, Burnham-on-Crouch. <8> See also <9>. April 2004. Scheduled Ancient Monument. The minefield control tower and pillbox (EHER 10005) were Scheduled 15/04/04. The following is an extract from the Schedule: Built in 1940 the pillbox (EHER 1005) predates the minefield control tower. Originally one of a series of manned defensive pillboxes along the coast, it undertook a more specialised role in housing the firing equipment for the original two warheads deployed at Holliwell Point. With the expansion of the minefield in 1941 the impressive control tower was purpose-built. This is a highly unusual structure, unique in England. The only other surviving example of a purpose-built minefield control tower in the British Isles overlooks the Sound of Kerrera, 4.8km South of Oban in Scotland. The minefield control tower survives in particularly good condition and provides a unique record of the architecture and design of this type of combined observation/control post. The pillbox is its improvised forerunner and has an important role to play in illustrating the evolution of the full complement of defensive schemes employed here. Together the two structures provide a graphic illustration of the threat, acutely felt at the time, of the impending German invasion. <10> December 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop research. A report on Naval Control at Southend and the Thames, written in July 1945, includes a chapter on Burnham-on-Crouch. Regarding minefields and the minefield control tower, it states: ‘Warhead Mines During July approval was given for warheads, connected to electrical firing, to be laid as mines, pending the supply of a more permanent minefield. With the assistance of Commander (T) Harwich, one pair was laid at the gateway to the Boom defence connected by cables to two of the military pill boxes at Holliwell Point; the firing keys and batteries being placed therein. Transit firing marks were also set up and the tests remained satisfactory. A further pair of warheads was laid 30 ft out from Wallasea Pier and connected to the central point in a private garden (Miss Jacob) on the North bank of the river. Both pairs of warheads remained in full operation for nearly two years. Mining Defence At a conference held at Admiralty House, Chatham on the 9th August 1940, it was decided to lay eleven groups of three mines each to supplement the warheads laid at Holliwell Point and a further single group to supplement those off Wallasea Pier. A Control Tower was built at Holliwell, together with the quarters for a complement of two R.N.V.R. Officers, six wiremen and sixteen Royal Marines as guards. The gear took a long time in assembling and it was not until June 13th 1941 that the operation of laying commenced, being completed as O.M. 52 on June 18th. ‘U.P.’ Rockets As an additional defence to the river, two ‘U.P.’ 2” Rocket Mountings were provided and sited at O.M. 52 Mining Station at Holliwell Point; these projectiles, when fired as a salvo of ten, covered the whole width of the river and would have been a very unpleasant surprise for the enemy. Final test being on 1st August 1941.’ <3> <11> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.