Bid to protect WW2 mortar site found in hedgerow

The Home Guard was trained to use the "Blacker Bombard" anti-tank mortars

The remains of a World War Two defence found in a Coventry hedgerow could get protected status.

The concrete base for a 29mm spigot mortar is said to be a “rare” example of wartime defences placed around the city.

A city council report said it fell just short of being recognised by Historic England, but could get planning protection from the authority instead.

The spigot mortars, also known as "Blacker Bombards", were built in the early 1940s to defend the country in the event of German invasion.

The concrete circle on Bennetts Road in Keresley was likely to have been created between 1941 and 1942, the report said, and could have been part of a line of defences.

It is estimated there were about 8,000 of these concrete or brick bases sunk into the ground with a metal pintle on top to allow the weapon to be swivel-mounted.

Narrow pits were typically cut around them to give the crew some protection.

The council said there would be surveys to map the structure and more evidence could be buried at the site.

It said the find reflected "the value Coventry had for the nation’s wartime efforts".

The 29mm ‘spigot mortar’ was one of the defences placed around Coventry

The mortar was reported to the city’s historic environment record by a member of the public two years ago and was confirmed during work by archaeologists at the University of Leicester.

Local listing would mean the structure is considered important by the council and has extra protection from development.

But it would require more research being carried out and a period of consultation, which is likely to begin on 8 July.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.