Monument record MBC44902 - A Second World War roadside ammunition dump

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 along the lane leading into Shalstone village from the north and centred at SP 64365 37747, the ammunition storage area comprises 12 rectangular buildings about 5 x 3.5 metres spaced about 9 metres apart and set out in a staggered line along the west side of the road over about 160 metres. 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 1944, 1946 and 1947, but all have been demolished by 1961 (1-6).