ROC Posts in Derbyshire
Nick Catford
north' to bag a few more ROC Posts for the web site
(www.subterranea.org.uk/roc/main.htm) The destination picked for 17th June
was Derbyshire. My thanks to Robin Ware for providing the transport and the
company on this 480 mile round trip. On the way we called in to see the
impressive open stopes of Long Rake Spa mine near Youlgreave which will be
the destination for a photographic trip later in the year.
Posts are listed in order of visit.
DERBYSHIRE
Name: CHURCH GRESLEY
OS Grid Ref: SK27931787
Date Opened: June 1959
Date Closed: September 1991
Location: On a low mound in a rectangular compound at the end of a line of
telegraph poles just south of and below the Castle Mount and beside a public
footpath running west from Knob Field (road).
Description: SEALED All surface features remain intact but the green paint
is flaking badly. The locks and hasps have been cut off but one broken hasp
has been hammered over holding the hatch firmly closed. The hatch appears to
be of an unusual 'local' design with raised hasps at one end and a different
internal locking mechanism. When visited by a local parish priest Rev.
Martin Sylvester in March 2000 the hatch was open and the post had been
damaged by fire and smoke and was damp and strewn with rubbish. One fence
post and an MOD sign lay at the bottom of the shaft. Twin bunks and a single
bed were still in place along with the visitors log which was retrieved for
preservation, siren crate, one swivel chair and the WB1401 speech receiver.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: MELBOURNE
OS Grid Ref: SK36492497
Date Opened: February 1961 and 1975
Date Closed: October 1968 and September 1991
Location: On a low mound in an overground rectangular compound on the east
side of Stanton Hill (A514) on the south side of a public footpath running
east from the road.
Description: OPEN Having closed in 1968 the post was re-opened in 1975
following the closure of Etwall. The compound fencing survives along two
sides, the other two sides being a hedge. All surface features remain intact
with the green paint in good condition. There are three steps up to the
access shaft. The hatch, which appears to be of an unusual 'local' design
with raised hasps at one end and a different internal locking mechanism, is
open. Internally the post is clean but damp with many items remaining in
place including instrument table, shelf, cupboard, WB1401 carrier receiver
with WB1410 filter unit, Tele-Talk, BPI mount, 4 Jerry cans, 3 mattresses,
battery box, two buckets, waste bin, fire blanket in its box, BT connection
boxes and wiring, gasket for FSM probe dome, cleaning materials, first aid
poster, light, papers, T-pot, kettle, dustpan and brush, bag of post keys, a
pair of waterproof trousers, battery leads, plates, bowl, candle holder and
a small splint.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: ETWALL
OS Grid Ref: SK28263217
Date Opened: February 1961
Date Closed: 1975
Location: In the north west corner of a field, 100 yards north of a footpath
running east from the end of Sandypit Lane.
Description: DEMOLISHED The only evidence of the post are three disused
telegraph poles, two along the footpath and one in the field close to the
site of the post. Farm waste has been dumped in the field over many years
and this may hide any remains of the post.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: SPONDON
OS Grid Ref: SK40873789
Date Opened: November 1963
Date Closed: October 1968
Location: On a low mound 50 yards south west from the corner of a wood and
200 yards south of a private road/public footpath running through Locko Park
Estate.
Description: OPEN All surface features remain intact but the ventilation
louvres are missing and the ventilation shaft is reduced to reinforcing bars
above the level of the louvre holes. The BPI pipe is bent over. Much of the
light green paint remains on the access shaft and the hatch is open.
Internally the post is flooded to a depth of 18". All the internal walls and
woodwork are painted green. The table and twin bunks remain in place
although the bottom bunk is below the water. There is a short pipe welded to
the top of the FSM cover plate with a coaxial socket on the top of it. The
cable runs down the FSM pipe resting on the instrument table below alongside
a 6 volt battery. Its purpose is unknown.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: RIPLEY (1st site)
OS Grid Ref: SK40935067 (Probable)
Date Opened: October 1964
Date Closed: September 1966
Location: On the north side of a playing field and east side of an arable
field boundary. 150 yards east of Nottingham Road (A610).
Description: DEMOLISHED No trace of anything. The land on which the post
stood was sold in 1966 and the post was closed and re-sited on the west side
of the town.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Future actions: CONFIRM POSITION
Name: RIPLEY (2nd site)
OS Grid Ref: SK38655050
Date Opened: September 1966
Date Closed: Before 1977
Location: Site lost under the realigned A38
Description: DEMOLISHED No trace of anything. With the realignment of the
A38 the post was closed again, some time before 1977 and a 3rd post built
two and a half miles to the west. The post was re-named Ambergate and was in
use by 1982.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: AMBERGATE
OS Grid Ref: SK35425108
Date Opened: By 1982
Date Closed: September 1991
Location: In a square compound, 50 yards east of a farm track running north
from New Bridge Road.
Description: OPEN This was probably one of the last underground posts to be
built between 1977 and 1982. All surface features remain intact with bad
flaking of the green paint. A dome on the ventilation shaft indicates this
was a master post. The three aerial guying points are visible in the grass.
The hatch is open but is secured by a bent section of the broken hasp. (This
was bent out of the way with the permission of the owner for the post
inspection but has now been bent back again). Internally the post is rubbish
strewn and fire and smoke damaged. The following items remain in place:
table, shelf, cupboard, two battery boxes, battery switching box, WB1401
carrier receiver and WB1410 filter unit, dartboard, three mattresses,
kettle, teapot, BT connection boxes, FSM mount, fire blanket box, two pairs
of Wellington boots, copper earth straps around the walls, bowl, saucepan,
wire brush, coax aerial cable, two waste bins, two chairs and the light.
There is an unusual blanking plate on the underside of the FSM pipe which
itself is not to the standard design. It requires a 2" spanner to remove it.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: HULLAND
OS Grid Ref: SK27964642
Date Opened: November 1959
Date Closed: October 1968
Location: In woodland on the south side of hill crest on A517.
Description: DEMOLISHED One side of the compound fencing survives along the
southern edge of the woodland. Some steps are still visible up the bank
through the trees. The post has been demolished but the top of the access
shaft has been rolled down the bank and lies on its side in the undergrowth.
It still retains some of its green paint.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: BRASSINGTON
OS Grid Ref: SK22795523
Date Opened: October 1964
Date Closed: September 1991
Location: On a low mound in a rectangular compound at the end of a line of
telegraph poles. 200 yards west of an un-named minor road.
Description: OPEN All surface features remain intact with the green paint
flaking badly. The step is broken. At one side of the mound there is a pipe
protruding from the ground with a telephone cable sticking out of it. This
is covered by a hexagonal metal cover painted ROC Green with GPO stamped on
it. The hatch is open. Internally much remains including twin bunks and the
ends of a single bed, three mattresses, long shelf with two shorter wooden
shelves above it at one end, instrument table raised to the level of the
cupboard, box of printing out paper, WB1401 carrier receiver and WB1410
filter unit, BT connection boxes and wiring, mirror, posters, 1 original
canvas folding chair and one other chair, two pairs of Wellington boots,
battery box, light, three Jerry cans, waste bin, bowl, candle holder, two
containers for heating liquids, fire blanket box, rubber gloves, gaskets for
FSM probe pipe, small splint, teapot and two tins of fire making tablets.
Remaining surface buildings: A two storey brick aircraft stands on a craggy
outcrop 150 yards to the north west at SK22695526. It is approximately 11' X
7' steeps steps up to the upper floor. The aircraft observation area is open
topped and 7' X 7' with evidence of the mounting for the instrument table in
the centre. Two steps lead down into the crew room which is 4' X 7' with a
sloping roof. There is a door into the lower room at the bottom of the
stairs with a window in the opposite wall. There is an outside toilet block
attached to the north wall.
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: HARTINGTON
OS Grid Ref: SK12945995
Date Opened: January 1958
Date Closed: September 1991
Location: At the end of a line of telegraph poles on the west side of a
field boundary at the bottom of a small hill. 200 yards west of Raynards
Lane.
Description: LOCKED There is an opening in the stone wall of the field
boundary with a hinge where there would have been a gate. All surface
features remain intact. The line of telegraph poles finish half way across
the field between the road and the post. All surface features remain intact
with some flaking of the green paint on the metalwork. The concrete is
unpainted. The GZI mounting is on top of a small concrete plinth on top of
the ventilation shaft adjacent to the access shaft, the top of the
ventilation shaft itself being damaged. The FSM pipe is also on top of a
concrete plinth.
Remaining surface buildings: The only evidence of the aircraft post on top
of the adjacent hill is a rusty pipe sticking out of the ground.
Date of visit 17.6.2000:
Name: ASHOVER
OS Grid Ref: SK35846366
Date Opened: November 1959
Date Closed: September 1991
Location: At the end of a line of telegraph poles a few years to the north
west of trig station close to craggy outcrop and public viewing point with
tables. 100 yards west of Alton Lane at its junction with Brownhills Lane.
Description: LOCKED All surface features remain intact. Both shafts are clad
in stone although this has fallen away in places. One ventilation louvre is
missing. There is an 18" extension of 1.5 inch diameter pipe welded onto the
top of the FSM pipe cover plate, its purpose is unknown. The hatch it
securely locked, it appears to be of an unusual 'local' design with raised
hasps at one end and a different internal locking mechanism. There are
security boxes around each padlock and one of the padlocks has a separate
lockable cover over it. A metal dome and mountings for an aerial mast on the
ventilation shaft and three guying points nearby, indicate this was a master
post.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Name: PLEASLEY HILL
OS Grid Ref: SK50856443
Date Opened: September 1961
Date Closed: October 1968
Location: In the rear garden of Wren Hill Farm house. Along a drive running
north from A617
Description: LOCKED The post has been preserved as a feature at the back of
the garden of this new house. All surface features remain intact although
the mound has been removed leaving everything standing on several courses of
bricks. All surface features have been repainted dark green. The hatch is
locked.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
DERBYSHIRE
Name: WHITWELL
OS Grid Ref: SK52937695
Date Opened: May 1959
Date Closed: September 1991
Location: In an overgrown square compound at the end of a line of telegraph
poles 50 yards west of B6043
Description: WELDED The last telegraph pole in the line is an unusual metal
one with a circular plate on the top. All surface features remain intact
with the green paint flaking badly. There is damage to one side of the
ventilation shaft. There are two steps, one on either side of the access
shaft which was rebuilt in 1989 and a new large hatch (Torlift) fitted. The
hatch is welded shut.
Remaining surface buildings: None
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Name: STAVELEY
OS Grid Ref: SK435760
Date Opened: January 1964
Date Closed: October 1968
Location: 50 yards west of Eckington Road (B6053)
Description: DEMOLISHED No trace of anything.
Remaining surface buildings: The 1:50,000 OS Map of 1970 shows a building at
SK43597591. This may well be the aircraft post. If so the underground post
was likely to have been close by.
Date of visit: 17.6.2000
Alex Ingram
ey1.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>There is a short pipe welded to
>the top of the FSM cover plate with a coaxial socket on the top of it. The
>cable runs down the FSM pipe resting on the instrument table below alongside
>a 6 volt battery. Its purpose is unknown.
Small portable television?
--
Alex Ingram - E-Mail: a...@dcs.ed.ac.uk - ICQ UIN: 7624204
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"People say that I'm crazy, but I'm not that way inclined"
Nick Catford
> Small portable television?
Not when the post was in use, the FSM pipe would be unusable for inserting
the FSM probe so it would seem like a later addition. Two posts in
Derbyshire have something similar however. Any ideas Terry ?
Nick
*****
Sounds like it could have been a portable TV setup.
Many Post Crews thought up ingenious ways to pass away the time during long
exercises.
Of course, the FSM Probe would have needed to be withdrawn - but who was to
know ????
Terry Wiseman
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Andy Dingley
>Sounds like it could have been a portable TV setup.
That's not a TV, it's an EMP monitor......
--
Cats have nine lives, which is why they rarely post to Usenet.
Richard McLachlan
<gu...@guess.com> writes
>
>
>> > Small portable television?
>>
>> Not when the post was in use, the FSM pipe would be unusable for inserting
>> the FSM probe so it would seem like a later addition. Two posts in
>> Derbyshire have something similar however. Any ideas Terry ?
>>
>> Nick
A guy who works for me was an observer at that post. I will ask him. I do
know that the Ashover one is used by local radio hams though.
--
Richard McLachlan
C172XP/R22 G3OQT
Landing Site info at http://www.foxfield.demon.co.uk