Firewatching

Perched atop a gantry over the roof of the former Ordnance Factory No.10 (Roften) at Hooton was this very rare item to find in situ. It is a 'Consol' firewatching shelter which were installed in order to provide some protection from shrapnel for the firewatchers who were there to protect the factory from incendiary bombs. It is made of a goodly thickness of mild steel and contained a seat and small shelf with, almost certainly, a telephone. This site which manufactured heavy anti-aircraft guns during WWII has since been demolished.