Second World War roadblock, 50 yards west of Tea Bridge, Audley End estate (EHER 10220)

A Second World War road block is located on a bridge over the River Cam. It comprises two concrete anti-tank cubes, one either side of the lane at the western end of the bridge, which was also mined. Originally the two cubes would have supported a steel hawser fixed permanently through the concrete of the south block and passed through the 6in hole in the north block to a fixing point. This could be lowered for friendly traffic or fixed in the raised position as an anti tank obstacle. Remains of the steel hawser are still attached to the northern block.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: There are two large concrete blocks, one each side of the track, on the west side of a bridge across a branch of the River Cam. The one to the north has a 6" hole through it. The one to the south is behind a high brick wall which shows signs that it was partially demolished and then rebuilt after the war. Originally these two blocks would have supported a steel hawser fixed permanently through the concrete of the south block and passed through the 6" hole in the north block to a fixing point. This could then be lowered for friendly traffic or fixed in the raised position as an anti-tank obstacle. Two photos of site. <1> 50yds to west of Tea Bridge, Audley End Estate. Mined bridge. Cassini ref. 973574. <2> The two anti-tank cubes are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1948 and are centred at TL 5225 3852. The bridge is one of a number of similar features adapted for defence along the River Cam in 1940-1941 within the Audley End Defence Area (Number 70) and formed part of the GHQ Line (Essex). <3> <4>