Second World War Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Site "TN24 Wennington", on the Thurrock-Greater London border (EHER 14714)

A Second World War Heavy Anti-aircraft battery on edge of Rainham marshes near Wenningham is visible as a series of circular cropmarks accompanied by a Nissen hut on aerial photographs taken in 1946. It is thought that at an early stage of the war, some heavy anti-aircraft gun emplacements were constructed of banked up soil. These would have been later replaced by concrete structures. In this case, it appears that the site may have been abandoned before it was developed further.

1994: Anti-aircraft battery on edge of Rainham marshes near Wennington: Appears not to have been used. <1> <2> <3> Documented in "Thames and Medway North and South H.A.A. Layout" 30th April 1940 - 6th AA division location list as M24 Unmanned 37th AA brigade. Possible circular enclosures. May 2012: Documented in contemporary records as "TN24 Wennington", a WWII Heavy Anti-Aircraft gun site on the Thurrock / GLC border west of Aveley. <5> In addition to the entry in "Thames and Medway North and South H.A.A. layout" mentioned above, Dobinson, C, lists two further records: Manning Date Guns Radar Regt Bty Feb 1940 22 Jun 1942 unarmed none An aerial photograph taken in May 1946 shows low-lying ground with many drains, to the west of New Road, south-east of Wennington. About 150 yards from the road, three, possibly with the soil marks of a fourth, circular enclosures can be seen. They are built of earth and each has a break in the ring, unusually east or southeast. 100 yards to the south, in a rough area of land, is a Nissen hut. <6> It is thought that at an early stage of the war, some heavy anti-aircraft gun emplacements were constructed of banked up soil. These would have been later replaced by concrete structures. In this case, it appears that the site may have been abandoned before it was developed further. Visited in March 2012, the area is now a very large scrapyard. The site of the enclosures straddles the Thurrock / GLC border. The village of Wennington is in Greater London.