Warenford OB and Auxiliary Unit

The site itself is located not far from the main A1 road through Northumberland, west of the small village of Warenford.

There are two different ways of approaching the site, one from the village and the other from Twizell House estate. Public footpaths pass the O.B. from both directions.

From the Warenford village end, walk back up the main road into the south side of the village. Upon reaching the edge of the main A1 look for the public footpath signs. Cross the A1 and go down the steps and over the style into the field. This is west of the village and A1 road. Follow the edge of the field to the first gate, then on to the next gate across the second field keeping to the footpath and tree line. On into the third field the ground drops away into a hollow keep heading west. As the ground rises there is a standing stone by the fence into the woods, this is the marker for the O.B. You can keep going to the end of the tree line where you will find a stream and the end of the other path from the Twizell House end. This is the point where you need to get over the fence into the trees. The O.B. is on the North side of the stream about 80 yards from the fence heading roughly back towards Warenford. Once in the woods cross the stream and take a minute or two to locate a track way leading from the stream diagonally through the dense trees, follow this to where the ground levels off the O.B. is on the high ground overlooking the stream.

The O.B. is a standard “Elephant” type shelter. The main entrance is down through a concrete pipe, you can still get down the pipe and into the O.B. with a bit of a squeeze due to the soil that has fallen into the hole.

At the other end the bolt hole tunnel and small store area has collapsed but the entrance into the O.B. is still visible and with a bit of manoeuvring you can slide in here also.

The site follows the typical layout for Northumberland O.B.s being on high ground and close to a water supply. The wooden bolt hole tunnel heads off toward the stream and its route can be seen though the wood has rotted away.

WW2 map reference: - qU623486 Modern NU128 281

Cell/Patrol members (as far as is known)

     G. Dunlop
     R.E.S. McDougle
     K.E. Brown
     E. Green
     L. Green

(Once again thanks must go to B.Ricalton for his help with this project)

See more on this OB here

Page text and images supplied by Stephen Lewins .