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View Full Version : Report: Redditch ROC Post - Worcestershire, January 2012



Tankman
08-01-2012, 05:29 PM
I had arranged to pick up some UKWMO maps from a friend in Redditch, and I wanted to try out an experimental "ROC Post" spotters book that I am working on so an ROC Post UE was on for the day in the surrounding areas:thumb Myself and BK first took in the local post of Redditch. Easy to track down on the "ROC Satnav" I don't like it when it says "Now navigate off road".

This post sits on top of a big hill that overlooks the town literally! The views are fantastic along with this amazing post, which is to say a rare site? Closed in October 1968.
We treked up two muddy fields to the post and it is worth the trek!

On with the pics.

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/47045/2155401620033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://news.webshots.com/photo/2155401620033241453oLSatF)

When you have trecked up the two muddy fields, this is what you are greeted with!
The post was built as a semi-sunken type! Somehow the mound has either been dug away or eroded over time to expose the post. What remains gives a very rare insight into how ROC posts were built!

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/50251/2318434830033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://news.webshots.com/photo/2318434830033241453BijjCL)

Over looking the town of Redditch with commanding views in all directions, you can just imagine the ROC crew winding up the siren for the alert! The ground is level with the rear internal vent hatch to give you some sort of depth to the remaining buried parts of the post!

http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/47593/2998902990033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://news.webshots.com/photo/2998902990033241453VdHIrK)

BPI hole/plate. The FSM pipe has been hacked off and now resides inside the shaft!

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/47415/2392445850033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://news.webshots.com/photo/2392445850033241453eQrlsQ)

The rear vent shaft is bent over and blocked. It must of took quite a bit of force to achieve this, especially since the reinforcing rods are intact, which probably means that the mound was dug away by a JCB etc? The rough concrete is the remains of the bitumin coating to stop water ingress once covered by earth.

http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/48456/2059631400033241453S600x600Q85.jpg (http://news.webshots.com/photo/2059631400033241453AWffiM)

And the reason why there are no internal shots! The ladder had been removed and access was by this chicken coop ramp! Did not fancy getting stuck down there and :panic FSM pipe sits in the corner.
Thanks for looking:thumb

Krypton
08-01-2012, 06:36 PM
ooooh i would have had to have a look!

Tankman
08-01-2012, 06:53 PM
Its a fetid pit of dispair as only a 68 closure can be and half full of sand.

KingElvis
08-01-2012, 07:42 PM
Wow, not seen one like that.

simonix
08-01-2012, 08:50 PM
That's amazing.