Herald - Issue 412

Page 18 • The HERALD • 16th September 2021 v PROUD TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1994 v PRIVATE, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL REFURBISHERS ALWAYS TRY TO MEET YOUR BUDGET RELIABLE! EXCELLENT REFERENCES! INSURED! Catalogue of previous works to view Plaster work • Floor & Wall Tiling • Wall removal • Bathroom Design & Fit • Laminate/Wood Flooring • Painting • Insulation • Decking • PVCu Gutter & Fascia OUR HANDYMAN SERVICES • Rubbish clearance • Gutters • Jet washing conservatories, paths and patios • Flat pack assembly • Van removals • NO JOB TOO SMALL • FIXED PRICES • WRITTEN QUOTATIONS P Strus 07414 779083 Email: p.strus7@gmail.com Your Local Professional Electrician • Complete Rewires • Periodic Inspection Reports • Fault Finding & Repair • New Consumer Units • New Circuits • Central Heating Wiring • Extra Sockets/Lights • PAT Testing • No Job Too Small • Part P Registered • Fast & Efficient Service • Free Estimates Telephone Gary on 07788 865081 forestelectrical@gmail.com How Beaulieu Village Was Set as a Trap During WW2 by local history enthusiast, Marc Heighway Beaulieu is known for its river, ancient buildings, and slow-moving tra c that makes way for donkeys mingling with summer tourists. But despite the speed at which people travel through the village, most miss the hidden history. e evidence is there though… if you know where to look. e village was set as a trap for invading forces during the Second World War, with the defensive aspects still disguised to this day. But rst, why Beaulieu? e Beaulieu River snakes up from the coast, making an ideal invasion point for the enemy to sneak into the country. If invaders had landed on the Solent coastline, the bridge near the Palace House would have been one of the rst crossing points made before travelling further into mainland Britain. To counter this, Home Guard plans were drawn up to help slow the enemy should they enter Beaulieu village. Every conceivable line of re was covered. is meant creating disguised positions to catch the enemy in cross re, no matter which direction they came from. For example, a roadblock was set-up outside the Palace House gates, with concrete blocks set into the grass stretching from the riverbank, crossing the road to the Palace House walls. When the grass yellows during hot summers, you can still see the markings near the bridge. In the Palace House clock tower, guards stood watch overnight, armed with ri es. Walter Elsworth’s book, “Beaulieu in WWII” describes how petrol bombs and glass bottles would have been thrown onto passing enemy vehicles, should invasion occur. en as you cross the bridge, it’s possible it was once rigged with explosives. If the village was breached by invaders, the bridge could have been destroyed to slow them further. Moving through the village, you might have noticed slits in the wall of the small residence opposite the Old Mill – the slits are now lled with glass, but during war these were loopholes through which guns could have been red. Turning into the lane with the re station, there’s a brick pillbox designed to t into the style of the surrounding buildings. e hope was to catch the enemy unawares should they approach from this side of the river. Firing positions were also planned in the Montagu Arms bay windows, as well as from the house opposite the High Street on Palace Lane. Nothing was le to chance. But for the biggest surprise, head back towards the bridge. In the grounds of the Old Mill is the centuries old Dairy House. It’s the round building with the conical roof. Many pass it daily without knowing its signi cance. But look closer… in 1940 it was converted, making it into what I believe to be Britain’s best disguised strengthened, creating a bulletproof room. Behind the glass windows, it was bricked up, leaving small slits to re through. It’s the perfect disguise, o ering a vantage point against invaders approaching from three di erent directions; the river, bridge, and road running past the Palace House. ankfully we’ll never know how e ective the trap would have been. However, documents by the Home Guard’s Lt Col Cro on, 2nd in command of the 9th Forest Battalion stated, “There will be no withdrawal ”. Moving to the present day, recently the Beaulieu Estate and their tenant kindly allowed me to enter the disguised pillbox in the Dairy House. If you want to see what I found, visit : www.ra eaulieu.co.uk/pillbox. I am not a professional historian. I am not an archaeologist. I am not a metal detectorist, and I don’t dig holes. I am simply passionate about our local history so you can learn and enjoy from what we find too. Do you have any stories or memories of the New Forest during wartime or Beaulieu Airfield? If you do, please email me on: mheighway@hotmail.com pillbox. The internal walls were thickened with concrete and the inside roof lowered and The Dairy House situated in the grounds of the Old Mill, Beaulieu once served as a pillbox during WW2 Colbury Memorial Hall, near Ashurst, is now up and running and ready for hire with full facilities, including a well equipped kitchen. It has a main hall, with stage and lighting, and a seating capacity of around 200 plus two smaller halls. e toilet facilities have recently been upgraded and there are aids for disabled in place. ere are approximately 95 car parking spaces available for building users. Colbury Memorial Hall is currently used regularly by many local groups but there is spare capacity for a variety of activities/events. Please telephone the Booking Secretary for further information (o ce hours only): 023 8029 2761. Local Hall Available to Hire