WW2 relic uncovered at BAE Systems Samlesbury site

A relic from the second World War has recently been unearthed at BAE Systems’ site at Samlesbury.

Lying buried under a mound of earth for the past 30 years, the long-forgotten concrete observation post was re-discovered during exploratory groundworks to extend car parking facilities on site.

With the threat of invasion at its highest just after the Dunkirk evacuations, the government commissioned the preparation of thousands of defensive structures across the country, from pillboxes to tank traps.

It’s thought that the observation post is part of a series of defensive structures built around 1940 to help defend the airfield being constructed at Samlesbury, allowing the English Electric Company to conduct final assembly and flight testing of Handley Page Hampden bombers.

Samlesbury would eventually have about eight defensive positions and whilst most of these have long disappeared, one of the pillboxes is still visible on the sports pitches behind the Canberra Club from the A59 road.

Ian Lawrenson, Heritage Manager at BAE Systems, says the rediscovered post is in very good condition and could be different to the others.

“Whilst most defensive structures built during the war were to standard designs, for example the pillbox is a type 22, we’ve so far been unable to identify what type the observation post is. Experts we’ve spoken to so far suggest this might be a unique design which makes the find even more exciting.”

Work will now take place to carefully remove the debris inside the structure and to clean the external surfaces, so the piece of history can be preserved for the benefit of future generations.