Monument record 0942101000 - Second World War Special Operations Executive transmitter Station 53c, Portway Farm

A Second World War Special Operations Executive transmitter station is visible on historic aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located in a field about 400 metres NE of Portway Farm and centred at SP 67796 26081, a linear road or track leads SW from the Calvert to Preston Bissett road for 110 metres to three rectangular buildings aligned NW-SE in a row. The buildings measure 28 x 6.5 metres, 9 x 8 metres and 8 x 5 metres. Theses building are part of Home Station 53c for Special Operations Executive (SOE), being the transmitter site paired with Station 53c receiver site at Poundon Hill (HER MBC24739/ 0942100000). These Home Stations allowed SOE to communicate with their agents and other resistance groups in occupied Europe. The buildings remained standing in February 2021 but they have all been demolished by April 2022 as part of the construction works for the HS2 rail line. No evidence of the transmitter station buildings are visible on aerial photographs taken in 2022 (B1-5).