Site of Second World War Spigot Mortar Emplacement, Churchyard, Great Clacton (EHER 21240)
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Summary
Site of Second World War Spigot Mortar Emplacement, now destroyed.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | TM 1767 1648 (point) |
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Type and Period
Description
WWII Defences of Britain survey
Contemporary records state, ‘Spigot mortar position south west corner. Churchyard. Great Clacton. Map ref. 624345’. (Mil. Ed.) <1>
St. John the Baptist Church, Great Clacton, stands at TM 1771 1653 with the churchyard along its south side. The ‘S.W. corner’ is on the north side of St. John’s Road on a sharp bend. This position appears somewhat unusual. Spigot mortars were normally sited in front or to the side of road barriers to cover the approach of armoured vehicles. Here, the site is effectively in the centre of three road barriers (SMRs 21237, 21238 and 21239).
The site was visited by Fred Nash in 2007.
Nothing of the emplacement remains to be seen now but, like all spigot mortar emplacements, its remains may still survive below ground level. <2>