Defence of the realm

In the dark days of 1940/41 there was a real fear of invasion after the German forces overran the nearby European countries, and desperate efforts were made to develop defences within Britain to help stop or at least slow down an invading force. One method was the use of roadblocks incorporating concrete cylinders that were supposed to be able to obstruct mechanised traffic. The remains in this image are part of a factory that was set up to manufacture these cylinders and was abandoned after the invasion scares were over. Since then it has lain derelict and quietly disappearing into the woodland that has developed on teh site. The pulley wheel is attached to one of three pan mills used for preparing materials and the corrugated iron sheets are what little is left of the building that once protected the machinery. There is also a batch concrete mixer and dozens of unused cylinders around the area.