While on a trip to photograph the windmill at Napton on the Hill, I came across a commemorative plaque at the side of the lane about 150 metres from the mill.
Inscription on the Plaque reads
“You are welcome to use the seat on this private property at you own risk. This seat and Rowan tree are on the site of the WWII Observer Post operated by the Royal Observer Corps. It was part of a network of observer towers built for the purpose of providing a system for detecting and tracking aircraft. The Blitz on Coventry (to the north of this spot) in November 1940 would have been observed from the tower. Villagers also witnessed the event from the fields. The Tree was planted on the 50th anniversary.
The Oxford Canal is close by and also played a part in the defences of the area in WWII.
Following the fall of France in 1940 a German invasion was considered imminent and part of Britain’s defence system was a network of Inland Stop Lines. The canal around Napton was part of Western Command’s Napton to Coventry Stop Line.
Evidence of these defences can still be found along the canal to the south of this spot. There are still Stent pillboxes on the side of the canal and anti-tank blocks just off the canal.
The support to this country in its desperate hours by such people as the Observer Corps, The Home Guard, The Women’s Land Army and the Agricultural and Horticultural workers who fed and protected this Nation is not always adequately remembered.
So, please take time to sit and reflect on the freedom we have today.”
The Observer Corps
The Corps was awarded the title ‘Royal’ by His Majesty King George VI in April 1941. During the Second World War the Royal Observer Corps undertook the long range tracking and reporting of enemy aircraft.
Comments
I understand that my Grandfather, Alfred Payne, Schoolmaster at Napton C of E School was Head Observer during the War and that as a consequence of being appointed to this position was put on the telephone (Southam 262) so that he could be contacted in an emergency.
Very interesting article. Do you know anything about any shelters built in or around Napton? I heard a rumour that there was some kind of bunker built underneath the Hill itself, and I’d like to find out more.
The bunker you are referring to was a Royal Observer Corps Underground Monitoring Post which was located a few yards to the north west of the old Observer Post, towards the Windmill. The old perimeter concrete posts are still there alongside the road / path.
I remember having a tour of the bunker with members of the ROC some 45 – 50yrs ago. There were similar monitoring posts at Harbury and Bidford on Avon and I understand that the bunker at Napton was filled in and all the evidence of it removed a number of years ago.
The one at Bidford on Avon was on WCC Smallholdings land and was capped off and sealed approx. 5yrs ago as a result of local vandalism.
My Father, who was a full time war reserve policeman during ww11,was often in the summer/ harvest time called upon to do a shift of fire watching from this post. Field fires mainly. This would have been during the summers of 1942/43/44 I think. I recall, once, when my Mother asked me , one evening, to cycle up to the post to take my Fathers tea. On the way up to the post I stopped to pinch, as boys do,a few field peas growing in the nearby field, and then being chased off by the farmer. My Father ,subsequently had to make my apologies to said farmer.
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