Site of Second World War Road Barrier, Vista Road, Clacton-on-Sea (EHER 21226)
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Summary
Site of Second World War Road Barrier, now destroyed.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | TM 1815 1494 (point) |
|---|
Type and Period
Description
WWII Defence of Clacton survey.
Contemporary records state, “Concrete pimples and rails, dannert wire. ‘The Towers’, Vista Road, Garden”. <1>
This entry is part of a removable road barrier which ran across Vista Road from the Grand Hotel on the west corner to the Towers Hotel on the east corner. It crossed some 25 yards north of the junction with Marine Parade East. In the roadway itself, there would have been a 4-row socket barrier with upright rails, removable to allow friendly traffic to pass. Each side would have been fixed anti-tank pimples up to the fronts of the buildings. An aerial photograph taken in July 1941 shows around 20 pimples on the east side, in the garden of the Towers Hotel. The west side is in shadow and northing can be made out. <2> <3>
Site visit by F. Nash, 2007
Nash noted that both the Grand Hotel and the Towers Hotel are now apartment blocks. <4>
Sources
- <1> SEX31436 LIST: Essex County Council. 1968. War Time Contraventions. Clacton.
- <2> SEX67895 Aerial Photograph: Unknown. 1941. S346-49. July 1941.
- <3> SEX67942 Map: CRE, Colchester - WDLA, North Essex. 1944. Dwg. No. 1908. July 1944.
- <4> SEX70635 DESC TEXT: Clacton VCH Group. 2008. Survey of World War Defences of Clacton.