Monument record MBC44771 - A Second World War roadside ammunition dump, Hillesden to Gawcott road.

A Second World War roadside ammunition dump is visible on historic aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located on the Hillesden to Gawcott road and centred at SP 68071 30810, the ammunition storage area comprises 7 rectangular buildings, each about 5 x 3 metres laid out over 65 metres. On the south-east-facing side of the lane, 6 buildings are spaced about 8-11 metres with long sides perpendicular to the road. To the rear of the buildings facing the field is a probable linear barbed wire obstruction. On the north-west-facing side of the road is a single hut, with long side parallel with the road. These portable corrugated iron shelters, or hutments, were usually camouflaged and covered stacks of artillery or small arms ammunition. Roadside storage not only made the ammunition easily accessible but dispersed the risk of a large loss of munitions in one event as a result of a German air raid. The munitions storage hutments are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947, but all features have been demolished by 1961 (1-4).