The Redoubt / Mobilisation Centre at North Weald was built at the end of the 19th century. It was one of several built to provide ammuntion to protect London if war ever broke out.
The Flood (Gorge Casemates)
The gorge casemates were used to store shells, and also as a barracks to soldiers.
Allen Williams Turret
199 of these were built in the UK. This is possibly one of the last survivors. Two were built at North Weald to protect a nearby radio station.
Shell & cartridge stores
From the name, you can guess what these were for. Outside…
And inside. Have no idea how the Fiesta got in there…
Random buildings
There were a few random buildings around the edge of the site. They were filled with revealing graffiti about “Sarah C”.
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I have walkedd my dog past this place for a number of years and it is only now that i have been informed by another local person (lived here all her life) the significance of the building etc. i am sad to see that it has been left to collapse in to a heap of rubble when it shgould be preserved for its history.
I’ve only recently found out about this place from the local kids who often hang around there, they call it “the dungeons”. So i thought i’d google it to find out what it is, and here i am. It’s very interesting that we have such a thing here in North Weald. I’ve lived in North Weald most of my life yet have never heard of this til recently. It’s sad more hasn’t been done to preserve the place.
hi im a student at kingston university, a am really interested in basing my project on this site but was just wondering if anyone has any plans or sections of the building, many thanks francesca
i can’t belive the state of this place, it gets worse everytime i go there.
How can the owners get away with this.
It’s owned by the M.O.D isn’t it?
My friends and I have spent many an evening down there but never seem to be able to find this “Sarah C” a local girl of easy virtue, or so the grafitti seems to allude!
Back at the end of the nineties extensive drainage systems were dug on Weald Common to alleviate flodding in the Thorn Hill estate. This seems to have allowed most of the water to sink into the previously saturated water table surrounding it. The Brambles are starting to lay claim to the site more than anything now.
To be fair, there is some very good grafitti down there is a shame the local artists did not have a bit more appriciation for the site and perhaps would have found somewhere else for their doubings.
Most of the concrete is in good condition and thanks to the low value on scrap steel and the relative absence of any bulk quantities of copper on site, it has managed to avoid the ravages of any material reclaimers.
If you do go into the long tunnels, be careful, there is an open drain in the right hand one as you look at them from the “crescent forecourt” in front of the ammunition stores. Your only fall 24″ but you’ll make a mess of your shins too!
I bet no one can find the magic mushroom patch either!
- Sam (Denzien of North Weald)