Watching Brief at the Stop Butts, MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire 5-7 May 2015

Watching Brief at the Stop Butts, MOD

Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire

5-7 May 2015

For

Boscombe Down Conservation Group

BDCG 2015-5-1

July 2015

Bob Clarke

2 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Summary

A watching brief was carried out during the groundwork for the installation of a new electricity cable

at the Stop Butts, MoD Boscombe Down. The area has a complex history especially in the latter

phases of the Second World War and immediate few years afterwards. The cable trench skirted the

edge of a number of structures dating to that period, specifically two purpose-built gun testing

facilities and a Blister Hangar. In this instance no archaeological features were noted, however a

record was made of the structures in the immediate area.

3 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Contents

Summary

List of Illustrations

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Site Location

National Grid Reference

Geology

Environs

Methodology

Aims and Objectives

Archive

Results

Image Locations

The Stop Butts Structures

Blister Hangar Building 269

Firing Point Buildings 309 & 310

Stop Butts Rounds Pits

Discussion

Finds

Discussion & Recommendations

Bibliography

Appendix A: Additional images of B269

Appendix B: Additional images of B309 internal layout

Appendix C: MoD Blister plan (extract from Technical Bulletin 02/02 2002).

4 BDCG 2015 -5-1

List of Illustrations

Figure 1. Site location and section codes. Excavation indicated by the blue line. Produced with the

permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc.

Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence number 100042019.

Figure 2. Location of sections noted in results. Produced with the permission of The Controller of Her

Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc. Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence

number 100042019.

Figure 3. Locations and directions of images generated during watching brief. Produced with the



Figure 4. Trench A-A View looking east. (Image IMG_0005 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).

Figure 5. Trench B-B View looking south/west. (Image IMG_0007 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).

Figure 6. Trench C-C View looking north/east. (Image IMG_0010 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).

Figure 7. Trench D-D View looking south/east. (Image IMG_0011 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).

Figure 8. Stop Butts c.1971 Building 269, B309 & B310 are to the top left of the image (inside red

box). The single span Blister (lower centre of image) has since been removed (10aNcs-F ©Ministry of

Defence).

Figure 9. Double vertical support at the point where two structures are adjoined. Note only surface

corrosion is evident. The horizontal bearers are supported on a brick plinth. Image IMG_9989

created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 10. Rails cut into the floor of B269. (IMG_0076 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 11. Rail detail cut into floor of B269. (IMG_ created 6 May ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 12. State of internal finish of B269. (IMG_9992 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 13. External condition of B269. (IMG_0067 created 6 May ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 14. Building 310 showing the front elevation. Note poor state of rendering around doors and

windows. (IMG_0054 created 6 May 2015©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 15. Building 309 showing the front elevation. Note porch, ramp and vegetation

encroachment. (IMG_0052 created 6 May 2015©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 16. Hinge point for heavy door. Now painted but showed no sign of wear. (IMG_0023 created

6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 17. The Stop Butts complex c.1944. The rounds pits and B309 & 310 are at the centre left of

the image. (©Ministry of Defence)

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Figure 18. The Stop Butts rounds pits in 2015. Note the whole complex is substantially overgrown.

(IMG_0059 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 19. South-western rounds pit. Note behind the growth is the actual round pit. The structure is

timber covered to slow the ricochets from rounds missing the pits. (IMG_0060 created 06 May 2015

©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 20. Detail showing the state of the brickwork on the north-west facing wall of the rounds pit.

(IMG_8176 created 06 July 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Appendix Figures

Figure A1. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support Units. (IMG_9986 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ

plc)

Figure A2. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support Unit single detail, scale 1 m. (IMG_9982 created 6

May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure B1. Double doors and holdfasts in B309. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0025 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ

plc)

Figure B2. Rear doors and elevation in B309. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0025 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ

plc)

Figure B3. Holdfast arrangement in B309. Extant red circles, removed yellow stars. Scale 1 m.


Figure B4. Workbench in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on the

left of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0033 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure B5. Sink and trestle in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on

the right of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0037 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure B6. Small porch on front elevation of B309. (IMG_0045 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)


6 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Introduction

A watching brief was carried out during the groundwork for the installation of a new electricity cable

at the Stop Butts, MoD Boscombe Down. The area has a complex history especially in the latter

phases of the Second World War and immediate few years afterwards. The cable trench skirted the

edge of a number of structures dating to that period, specifically two purpose-built gun testing

facilities (Buildings 309 & 310) and a Blister Hangar (Building 269). A photographic assessment of the

area failed to produce any recognisable archaeological features. It is however, Boscombe Down

Conservation’s intention to monitor all ground works on site, irrespective of potential. In this

instance no archaeological features were noted, however a record was made of the structures in the

immediate area.

The watching brief was carried out on 5-7 May 2015, by Bob Clarke.

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to the Facilities Management Team at Boscombe Down for their continued help and co-

operation in this and other works. Kevin Turner for access to the site during the groundwork phase

and some interesting insights into the history of the site. And Emma Elton for reading the report. Site

plan derived from Ordnance Survey Landline digital data produced with the permission of The

Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc., Farnborough,

Hampshire. Licence number 100042019.

Report prepared by Bob Clarke [email protected]

Boscombe Conservation Archaeologist, Building 45, MoD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JF.

mailto:[email protected]

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Site Location

The Stop Butts are located in the western sector of the MoD airfield, Boscombe Down. The current

work originated at a small electricity plinth on the eastern side of a small access road. It then crossed

the road via an extant subterranean ducting channel, before running up the side of Building 269 and

then on to a transformer.

National Grid Reference

A-A. SU 17448/39675 – 17408/39679

B-B. SU 17407/39661 – 17395/39650

C-C. SU 17395/39650 – 17373/39647

D-D.SU 17373/39647 – 17348/39667

Figure 1. Site location and section codes. Excavation indicated by the blue line. Produced with the



A-A

B-B

C-C

D-D

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Geology

The underlying geology of the area comprises Upper Chalk of the Cretaceous Period (Geological

Survey of Great Britain, 1:50,000 Solid and Drift Series, Sheet number 298).

Environs

The proposed development is in an area of low archaeological potential. The area in which the Stop

Butts stand has seen substantial modification since 1940. Many of the operations and buildings in

this area are the subject of classified marking and subsequently will not appear in this work.

However three structures, now redundant, can be reported here. Immediately to the east is COB

West, part of the 1979-1981 airfield upgrade (Clarke 2014; Clarke 2015). A list of archaeological sites

in the immediate area is noted below.

Site Type Protection NGR HER Ref. Reference

Undated

Ditch

SU 1751

3982

MWI10594 -

SU13NE682

Clarke, B., 1999. Interim Report on New Fire

Station Site at the Establishment of DERA

Boscombe Down, Publisher: Defence Evaluation

and Research Agency, Wiltshire Council

Catalogue Number: 1999.055

Linear

Feature

SU 1777

4007

MWI12032 -

SU14SE359

Wessex Archaeology, 2008. Boscombe Down Airfield New Accommodation Block (OP Tamarin), Amesbury, Publisher: Wessex Archaeology, Unit Report number: 66982.02, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 2008.097

Site of

levelled

Barrow

SU 1736

3990

MWI10514 -

SU13NE602

Valentin, J., Robinson, S. + Laidlaw, M., 2001. Boscombe Down FSTA, Publisher: AC Archaeology, Unit Report number: 1001/2/0, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 2001.088

Undated

Square

Enclosure

SU 1720

3992

MWI10531 -

SU13NE619

Fieldwork – Ordnance Survey, 1972. Ordnance Survey Fieldwork 1972

Undated

Parallel

Ditches

SU 1728

4020

MWI12264 -

SU14SE749

Kirby, C. + Clarke, B., 2001. Watching Brief and Section Through Monument SU14SE749 at SU17174029 DERA, Boscombe Down, Amesbury, Publisher: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Volume: Number 7, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 2001.039

9 BDCG 2015 -5-1

A major Iron Age and Romano-British settlement, first noted in 1948 through ground works in

preparation for the construction of a second runway (Richardson 1951), lies 1 km to the east of the

current excavation. To date, the western edge of this settlement is yet to be determined. Recent

work in advance of a Fire Fighting Water Main has produced evidence of prehistoric activity across

the site (Wessex Archaeology 2000; Manning et al 2010). A number of burial mounds have been

recorded running from north-east / south-west across the airfield; four are extant (Clarke & Kirby

2003). Associated with these early Bronze Age features are a number of linear ditches of similar age.

Clearly the airfield landscape has much archaeological potential.

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Methodology

A trench 300 mm wide and approx. 500 mm deep was cut using a toothless bucket. All features were

recorded photographically and six location points were obtained using a Garmin Etrex handheld GPS,

deviation on the day 4/3m.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the watching brief was to record the location of any archaeological deposits, features and

their relationship/chronology, where possible with any known features or landscapes.

Archive

The archive will be retained at the Information Warehouse, MoD Boscombe Down. An Electronic

copy will be available for dissemination.

The work is also recorded through OASIS.

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Results

The excavation falls into four distinct sections: the section running along the access road into the

facility (A-A); a section running alongside Building 296 to a point where the natural topography has

been truncated and lowered by around one metre (B-B) and two sections in machine stripped

natural (C-C) & (D-D). No archaeological features were noted along the entire length of the cable

trench, although a number of earlier service trenches were evident.

Figure 2. Location of sections noted in results. Produced with the permission of The Controller of Her

Majesty’s Stationary Office ©Crown Copyright, QinetiQ plc. Farnborough, Hampshire. Licence

number 100042019.

Section A-A

Section A-A ran for 40m alongside the access road to the facility. The topsoil was a fairly uniform

150mm in depth, comprised a mid-brown loam with <30% flint gravel inclusions interspersed with

<10% chalk <10mm. Below this the trench cut through a number of modern services, ballast for the

road and several fragments of CMB. The trench terminated at a purpose-built underground conduit

that ran under the road.

A-A

B-B

C-C

D-D

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Section B-B

Section B-B ran from the point the conduit appeared from under the road and alongside Building 269

for 14m. It cut through a concrete path and then the levelling gravel ballast. Only disturbance

related to the construction of the concrete path was evident.

Section C-C

Section C-C ran for 24m across an area of apparently undisturbed ground. The topsoil ranged 150-

200mm. The topsoil had a diffused boundary with the underlying chalk. It comprised a dark-brown

loam <15% sub rounded chalk <20mm, and <5% rounded red/orange flints. Below this the chalk was

a loose, frost broken matrix. A number of services were discovered in this trench.

Section D-D

Section D-D ran down a small slope, probably indicating the point at which the machine grading of

this area stopped, and then on for a further 41m. The topsoil was 120mm along the entire section

through which the trench ran and had a very clear horizon with the underlying chalk. Towards the

end of the trench a number of services were encountered. The topsoil was a very pale-brown, 10%

sub-rounded chalk.

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Image Locations

A digital photographic archive was created of the work. While no archaeological features were

noted, a series of images are presented here for future reference.

Figure 3. Image direction and location of images generated during watching brief. Produced with the



Figure.5

Figure.6

Figure.8

Figure.7

14 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Figure 4. Trench A-A View looking east.

(Image IMG_0005 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc).

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Figure 5. Trench B-B View looking south/west.

(Image IMG_0007 created 7 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

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Figure 6. Trench C-C View looking north/east.


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Figure 7. Trench D-D View looking south/east.


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The Stop Butts Structures

Introduction

The following narrative covers the range of buildings associated with the Stop Butts complex close to

the trenching work. It focusses on Buildings 269, 309, 310 and the rounds pits (fig 8). Other

structures in the area are omitted due to operational considerations. Each building is described and

a condition survey offered.

Figure 8. Stop Butts c.1971 Building 269, B309 & B310 are to the top left of the image (inside red

box). The single span Blister (lower centre of image) has since been removed (10aNcs-F ©Ministry of

Defence).

Blister Hangar Building 269

The Blister Hangar is a type of portable aircraft hangar utilised, but not exclusively, on airfields

across the United Kingdom, and later in Northern Europe. It was designed by the Scottish architect

Graham R Dawbarn. Dawbarn also designed the Art Deco Brooklands Aero Clubhouse, opened in

1932, and had an input in the design of the recently closed Television Centre in London. The original

hangar design, patented in 1939 by engineering firm Miskins and Sons, incorporated wooden ribs

supporting corrugated, profiled, steel sheets. By 1940 this had given way to steel lattice supports

and formers, still clad by corrugated sheet. The erecting of blister hangars was a fairly quick

19 BDCG 2015 -5-1

operation. The structure required little in the way of foundations, often simply pinned to the ground

by long stakes, although the majority were eventually provided with concrete foundation blocks

(Technical Bulletin 02/02, 2002, World War II Hangars Guide to Hangar Identification Defence

Estates, Ministry of Defence). By the end of the Second World War Blister Hangars could be seen in

every European theatre, including Reykjavik Aerodrome, Iceland and Safi Airfield, Malta (Betts 1995).

Blisters at Boscombe Down

The double blister hangar (B269) at the Stop Butts is the only extant example of the structural type

currently at MoD Boscombe Down. The examination of the site aerial record demonstrates that,

throughout the Second World War a number of blisters had been erected around the airfield, all

single span. The double blister hangar located within the Stop Butts facility appears on aerial

photographs from 1947 suggesting it was either a new build at that time or had been moved from

another station to the current location. Other buildings on site had been used elsewhere before

arriving at Boscombe Down. This includes hangar B413, a structure brought from the Spitfire

Assembly site at High Post, Salisbury and re-erected sometime between 1945-48.

Figure 9. Double vertical support at the point where

two structures are adjoined. Note only surface

corrosion is evident. The horizontal bearers are

supported on a brick plinth. Image IMG_9989 created

6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Building 269

Building 269 is noted in the Ministry of Defence Technical Bulletin 02/02, 2002 as a ‘Miskins Blister

Hangar Enlarged Overtype’. The example at Boscombe Down has a height of 6.646m, 0.448m higher

than standard measurements for the type. The additional distance is accounted for by the fact the

support structure is raised off the ground by concrete blocks and brick plinths (fig 9). The entire

covered space has a concrete floor. Two pairs of rails, manufactured using steel angle iron, are let

into the floor. The first pair 5.20m from the south-west end of the blister, the second a further

2.10m further north-east. Each pair comprise a 12.2m long section of angle, each leg 50mm wide (fig

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11). The concrete floor was a feature prior to the construction of the blister hangar, the rails are

clearly a later edition (fig 10), whether this was before or after the erecting of B269 was not possible

to ascertain.

Figure 10. Rails cut into the

floor of B269. (IMG_0076

created 6 May 2015

©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 11. Rail detail cut into

floor of B269. (IMG_0073

created 6 May ©QinetiQ plc)

Building 269 on 6 May 2015

Currently B269 is used as a store for groundwork contractor’s equipment and materials. Internally

the structure appears sound. All horizontal bearer units and vertical support units are in good

condition (fig 9), only displaying slight surface corrosion. Internally the corrugated block sheeting

appears sound, paint is peeling away (fig 12) but little evidence of corrosion was noted. The concrete

floor is in good order with little evidence of undermining or cracking. Externally the block sheeting

has lost the majority of the black paint originally covering the outer surface (fig 13). The entire

external area is now covered in surface corrosion. No evidence of holes caused by corrosion were

noted, however areas around the windows will, in time, need re-protecting.

21 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Figure 12. State of internal

finish of B269. (IMG_9992

created 6 May 2015

©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 13. External condition

of B269. (IMG_0067 created

6 May ©QinetiQ plc)

Firing Point Buildings 309 & 310

External

Buildings 309 & 310 predate the construction of the blister hangar. The structures are essentially

mirror images of one another. Both stand on raised concrete platforms with steps to a door at the

rear and a ramp into the firing area (fig 14 & 15). The buildings are double brick skinned with

concrete lintels above and below windows and above doors. The windows are the typical Crittal

style. Access to the structures is via a pair of wooden sliding doors at the front elevation (facing the

butts) and a single, inward opening door at the rear. Both buildings have a roof sloping towards the

rear of the structure, front height 3100mm, rear height 2360mm, comprises both asbestos and tin

corrugated sheet. Above the double doors is a form of porch comprising a triangular frame covered

with corrugated sheet, later a light has been fitted to the wall under this. The external walls are

22 BDCG 2015 -5-1

rendered, however this is in a poor state of repair and patches have fallen away due to weather

action.

Figure 14. Building 310

showing the front elevation.

Note poor state of

rendering around doors and

windows. (IMG_0054

created 6 May

2015©QinetiQ plc)

Figure 15. Building 309

showing the front elevation.

Note porch, ramp and

vegetation encroachment.

(IMG_0052 created 6 May

2015©QinetiQ plc)

Internal

Internally both structures are divided by a single brick partition with a single door aperture. All doors

are not original. Investigation demonstrated all three doors having additional hinge points extant

close to each door aperture. The hinge points (45mm x 16mm) suggest that the doors were originally

much heavier that the current wooden ones, furthermore all hinge points are covered with paint

and rendering suggesting they were either not used, or the doors were replaced early in the

structures life (fig 16). The internal dimensions are 5529mm by 7787mm (sub-divided by the internal

wall into 3300mm by 4487mm). The smaller of the two compartments contained a galvanised sink

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unit with single water feed. In the larger compartment a series of holdfast points were recorded just

behind the double doors facing the butts.

Figure 16. Hinge point for heavy door. Now

painted but showed no sign of wear. (IMG_0023

created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Building 309 & 310 on 6 May 2015

Both structures appear to have been abandoned although racking and trestles found inside suggest

they are being utilised in some stores capacity. Windows are showing signs of deep corrosion, once

this reaches a certain point the pressure caused by the delamination of the frame structure breaks

the glass panes, further accelerating the decay to the building fabric. All painted internal surfaces are

now in a poor condition and whilst water is not actually getting inside, the general damp conditions

are corroding fittings and fixtures. Externally, the render and paint finish is generally poor, water and

frost action will continue to remove rendering at an accelerated rate (fig 14), whilst surface decay in

the double doors structure is likely to reach a critical point in the next few years if untreated.

Vegetation has started to encroach on the building footprint; externally, overgrowth in the south-

east corner of B309 is damaging the external surface of the structure (fig 15), moreover this has

started to undermine one of the window frames with briers now penetrating inside the building.

Stop Butts Rounds Pits

The Stop Butts for this particular facility does not have a building number, although the name is used

for the complex of buildings describe here. Probably from Old French but, of unknown origin;

perhaps influenced by French butte 'rising ground', the butt in weaponry terminology indicates an

earthen bank that targets are set in front of. Most RAF stations had some form of aircraft firing

range – often a substantial block house structure, roofed to stop ricochets with a large sand box

below to absorb the energy from fired rounds. The Stop Butts at Boscombe Down comprises a

number of phases. The back of the Butts is surrounded by an earthen bank c.5m high. In front of that

a brick sand-box was constructed originally with a roof (fig 17) – this was removed c.1970 and

replaced with a brick wall at the rear fronted by a sharp sand rounds pit. At either end of the Butts a

24 BDCG 2015 -5-1

further substantial rounds pit was built. These structures are contemporary with the original

construction of the site in the Second World War period (fig 17) and were retained during the

modification to the facility c.1970. Each are 3m wide, 3.5m deep and 4.25m high, brick built

structures faced with railway sleepers (fig 19). The lower half of the elevation facing building 309

and 310 is open and filled with sand to absorb the energy of fired rounds. The sleepers are used to

stop the chance of ricochets from rounds that missed the pit aperture.

Figure 17.. The Stop Butts

complex c.1944. The rounds

pits and B309 & 310 are at the

centre left of the image.

(©Ministry of Defence)

Stop Butts on 6 May 2015

The Stop Butts are in an advanced state of decay. The central area is substantially overgrown,

making access difficult (fig 18). The two rounds pits are also substantially damage, the majority of

the brickwork has lost external surfaces (fig 20), presumably due to the process of under firing

bricks, an energy-saving technique prevalent during the early 1940s (Kohan 1952, 163). Moreover

both are partially overgrown by ivy, this will accelerate the decay of the structures if left unchecked.

Figure 18. The Stop Butts

rounds pits in 2015. Note the

whole complex is

substantially overgrown.

(IMG_0059 created 6 May

2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

25 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Figure 19. South-western rounds pit. Note

behind the growth is the actual round pit.

The structure is timber covered to slow the

ricochets from rounds missing the pits.

(IMG_0060 created 06 May 2015 ©QinetiQ

plc)

Figure 20. Detail showing the state of the brickwork on the north-west facing wall of the rounds pit.

(IMG_8176 created 06 July 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

26 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Discussion covering Stop Butts Structures

Buildings 309 & 310 and the two rounds pits are part of the original Stop Butts complex. It is not

possible to say whether B309 & 310 were originally furnished with steel doors fitted as evidence has

been obscured by later rendering. The holdfasts, located just behind the double doors and directly in

line with the rounds pits, suggest, through their arrangement that a number of different types of

equipment have been mounted in that spot for testing. The porches projects out towards the rounds

pits, a number of interpretations are likely. Either the porch is a weather cover protecting a hot gun

barrel from the elements or, more likely, any weapons testing at the facility is less likely to be visible

from above. If the second assumption is correct there is a possibility of phasing the addition.

Certainly the modifications do not appear to be fitted when the vertical image (figure 8) was taken

c.1971. The addition of the blister hangar in the late 1940s provides the facility with an ‘all weather’

capability. It is likely that the hangar was erected over an existing concrete floor, if this is the case

then the two rails recorded laid in the floor may demonstrate an additional phase between the

laying of the floor and the erection of the blister hangar.

Currently the site is underutilised, and certainly appears not to have been used for its intended

purpose in the last decade or so. Blister hangars were once a numerous landscape feature

connected with many aviation sites. Since the drawdown of American servicemen and reductions in

the Royal Air Force’s capability (Clarke 2009, 203) the survivability of such temporary structures has

become more precarious. Indeed it is possible that the blister hangar at the Stop Butts may be one

of, if not, the only unaltered example of a blister hangar extant in the county.

27 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Finds

No finds were located during the watching brief.

Discussion & Recommendations

The investigation of the Boscombe Down airfield ‘footprint’ continues to complement the stations

conservation and heritage management profile. While no archaeological features were noted during

this watching brief, it does appear that the immediate area around section C-C has not been

disturbed during the various construction episodes at the Stop Butts. For this reason it is

recommended that any further intrusive work required at the Stop Butts be conducted under

archaeological supervision, at least until a higher level of confidence can be achieved. The recording

of structures in the immediate vicinity of the work has meant that an increasingly rare set of

buildings have now been placed on the record.

28 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Bibliography

Betts, A. 1995, The Royal Air Force Airfield Construction Service 1939-46, Airfield Research

Publishing, Ware.

Clarke, B. 1999. Interim Report on New Fire Station Site at the Establishment of DERA Boscombe

Down, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Wiltshire Council Catalogue Number: 1999.055.

Clarke, B. 2009, The Archaeology of Airfields, Stroud: History Press.

Clarke, B. 2014, Watching Brief at COB West, MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, Boscombe

Down Conservation Group, Unpublished client report no. BDCG 2014-10-(1).

Clarke, B. 2015, Watching Brief at COB West, MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire 23-26

March 2015, Boscombe Down Conservation Group, Unpublished client report no. BDCG 2015-3-1.

Clarke, B., Kirby, C. 2003, A Newly Discovered Round Barrow and Proposed Linear Cemetery at

Boscombe Down West, Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Magazine, 96, 215-218.

Kohan, C.M. 1952, Works and Buildings, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, and Longmans, Green and

Co.

Manning, A., McKinley, J.I., & Barclay, A., 2010, Early Bronze Age Burial Remains from Boscombe

Down Airfield, Amesbury, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Magazine, 103, 309-

312.

Ministry of Defence. 2002, Technical Bulletin 02/02, 2002, World War II Hangars Guide to Hangar

Identification Defence Estates, Ministry of Defence

Richardson, K. M., 1951, The Excavations of Iron Age Villages on Boscombe Down West, Wiltshire

Archaeological & Natural History Magazine, 54(195), pp 123-68.

Wessex Archaeology, 2000, DERA Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, Fire Fighting Water Mains:

Archaeological Watching Brief, Salisbury, Wessex Archaeology unpublished client report no.

47647.1.

29 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Appendix A: Additional Images of B269

Figure A1. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support

Units. (IMG_9986 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure A2. Horizontal Bearer and vertical support Unit

single detail, scale 1 m. (IMG_9986 created 6 May

2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

30 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Appendix B: Additional images of B309 internal layout

Figure B1. Double doors and holdfasts in B309. Scale 1 m.


Figure B2. Rear doors and elevation in B309. Scale 1 m.


31 BDCG 2015 -5-1

Figure B3. Holdfast arrangement in B309. Extant red circles, removed yellow stars. Scale 1 m.


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Figure B4. Workbench in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on the

left of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0033 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

Figure B5. Sink and trestle in smaller annex of B309. Invasive briers are visible under the window on

the right of the image. Scale 1 m. (IMG_0037 created 6 May 2015 ©QinetiQ plc)

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Figure B6. Small porch on front elevation of B309.



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Appendix C MoD Blister Plan (extract from Technical Bulletin 02/02 2002)

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END

Watching Brief at the Stop Butts, MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire 5-7 May 2015

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Transcript of Watching Brief at the Stop Butts, MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire 5-7 May 2015