A Summary Report on Second World War Activity at Watery Lane, Church Crookham, Hampshire

Abstract

An archaeological excavation of four areas approximately 0.39ha in total, of land at Watery Lane, Church Crookham, Hampshire, was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in November and December 2016. It followed the recording of two Pill Boxes and a trial trench evaluation of a wider development area. In all four areas archaeological features were identified. The artefactual evidence indicated five phases of archaeological activity, with features dating from the late prehistoric, medieval, medieval/post-medieval, and post-medieval to modern wartime period. Several heavily truncated isolated prehistoric features were identified, as were field boundary ditches of medieval to the post-medieval date. Many undated, but presumed modern, postholes were found across the site. The postholes may have been the result of an extensive network of Second World War temporary timber structures known as tactical obstacles (including barbed wire entanglements and tank proof obstacles) erected during anti-invasion defence works. These structures were likely to have been part of the important Stop Line Defence network, Line A of the GHQ (General Headquarters) line of defences, which were planned to slow down a ground invasion.