tarboat's photos with the keyword: watching

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.

Advert for fire watching shelter. There are still odd ones lying around as the steel they were made of was so thick.

Whilst out walking the dogs the other day I espied an interesting feature perched atop a gantry over the roof of the former Ordnance Factory No.10 (Roften) at Hooton. This is a very rare item to find in situ and is a 'Consol' firewatching shelter. These 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 is one of two that survive at this site which manufactured heavy anti-aircraft guns during WWII.